Can’t Make It to Kingston?

We get it.

Not every production can pack up and head north. Timelines are tight. Teams are busy. Sometimes leaving the city simply isn’t in the cards.

That’s exactly why Cobalt has a home in New York City.

Our headquarters in the West Village was built to serve the agencies, brands, producers, and creatives who want to work with Team Cobalt but need solutions that come to them.

While our Woodstock/Kingston campus offers expansive stages and full-scale production capabilities, some of our most innovative work happens right here in the city.

Bringing Cobalt to You

The future of production isn’t about forcing projects into a single location. It’s about creating smarter, more flexible ways to work.

Through our Mobile Virtual Production and EFX capabilities, we bring the power of Cobalt directly to our NYC clients. Whether it’s an episodic, an agency presentation, a commercial production, branded content, a specialty effects sequence, or a complex technical challenge, our team can deploy the expertise and technology needed to transform almost any space into a production environment.

No unnecessary travel. No logistical headaches. No compromise.

Just the same creative thinking, technical knowledge, and production support that define Team Cobalt—delivered where you need it.

The Best of Cobalt, Without Leaving the City

Our NYC headquarters exists for the clients who want the Cobalt Tech experience, innovation, and problem-solving approach without stepping away from their projects, their teams, their schedules, or their locations.

Need Virtual Production solutions in Manhattan? We’ll come to you.

Need EFX support for an in-city shoot? 

We’re already here.

Need a production partner who understands how to move quickly and think creatively? That’s exactly why our New York headquarters exists.

And if your project eventually grows into something that would benefit from our Upstate stages, we’ll be ready for that too.

Because working with Cobalt shouldn’t depend on your zip code.

It should depend on your Vision.

Can’t make it to Kingston?

No problem.

We’ll bring Cobalt to you.

FAQs About Cobalt Tech

How Cobalt Has Been Pioneering Virtual Production Since 2015!

Cobalt Stages has been leading the charge in Virtual Production since 2015, when we brought the tech to the East Coast. Industry vets, of course, pushed back with the classic, “But we’ve always done it this way.” Change always difficult, but we stuck with it because we saw what Virtual Production could do. Eventually, we boiled it all down to three words: pushing cinematic boundaries. And honestly? That’s what it’s all about. The creative freedom is real – even on a shoestring budget. (Trust us, as producers, we’ve lived those trade-offs.)

Virtual Production opens up new possibilities like:

• Staging your story anywhere imaginable-–past, present or future.
• High production value on a shoestring budget.
• No more weather days, or chasing the sun.
• Shooting entire projects on stage in a controlled environment.
• No more traveling cast & crews.
• Fewer box trucks….. Loading & unloading….

What Is Virtual Production?

Virtual Production integrates CG environments with live action, allowing filmmakers to see the composite in real-time, during the shoot. This creates a seamless blend between physical and digital elements, giving directors unprecedented creative freedom and control.

Virtual Production: LED Volumes & Chroma Key Screens

Time to bust a major misconception….  Virtual Production isn’t synonymous with LED volumes.  LED walls are an option, not a necessity. Chroma key screens work just fine in most cases.  In fact, you can take a Hybrid approach using green screen for wide shots and LED walls for close-ups. If you’re shooting highly reflective live action elements (like cars or sparkly wardrobe) this is where LED walls really shine (pun intended ;)).

LED volumes and green/blue screens are just tools. All of them work with the Virtual methodology.  Our system handles both LED volumes & green/blue screen.

Workflows in Virtual Production

Choose your Virtual Production workflow; either Traditional where the final compositing happens in post, or Final Pixel, which generates live finished composites while you film.

With Final Pixel, you can expect to spend more time in planning and pre-production, but you won’t have post to worry about.

Where to Find Budget-Stretching Virtual Assets

Creating virtual environments doesn’t mean building everything from scratch. There are plenty of online marketplaces where you can find ready-made 3D models for a fraction of what a physical set would cost:

• TurboSquid
• Unreal Marketplace (FAB)
• Scans Factory

Check out this bunker for $10, below:

Image from TurboSquid.com.

You can hardly get a breakfast sandwich for $10.

Speaking of Cost Savings

We saved the budget convo for last because cost-savings can turn off producers who equate it with cutting corners on quality. We founded Cobalt as a “By Producers, For Producers’ company, so we get that.

Virtual Production can help you achieve the quality you want, while stretching the budget you have, allowing you to eliminate expenses like these where you think it makes sense:

• Location scouting
• Travel
• Permits
• Security
• Weather days

FAQs About Cobalt Tech

Reel Histories 3: Apocalypse Cow

Filming Affection in Bovina, NY — In Conversation with Christopher Santiago

KARA VEDDER: Most of Affection was shot wayyyy out in Delaware County, New York – in Bovina, which lives up to its name.

ALEX FERNBACH: An existential horror movie, shot in a remote location, in nonstop weather – so, who’s got what problem here?

KARA VEDDER: BT Meza wrote, directed, and produced – along with Bay Dariz, Austin Walk, and JP Ouellette. We worked with line producer Chris Santiago, who told us about the Affection shoot for this installment of ‘Reel Histories.’

COBALT: Chris, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. Affection hits theaters May 8 — given everything you were up against, how did you pull it off?

CHRIS: On most indie films, everyone becomes essential. When you’re stretching a dollar to make a genre movie, there’s no margin for error, but our lead producer,  Bay Dariz, really held us together when things got difficult. 

COBALT: How rough are we talking here?

CHRIS: Just bad luck on top of isolation. We’re doing overnight shoots in the rain. We’re deep in the Catskills where nothing is open late. Cell service is patchy, the nearest Walmart was almost an hour away. 

COBALT: What pulled you there in the first place?

CHRIS: We kept coming back to this one house. The land, the style, it just worked—it carried the emotional tone and the story. We were going for a period-neutral aesthetic that didn’t lock us into a specific era.

COBALT: Creatively perfect but logistically brutal.

CHRIS: Exactly. It rained every single day. We were losing at least an hour of shooting a day. And most of our work was exterior nights. It wore everyone down. 

Ironically, the original script had a storm sequence. We cut it because it would’ve been too expensive, then nature gave it to us anyway.

COBALT: Affection really leans into practical effects—what was behind that decision?

CHRIS: The director BT is a big 80s horror fan, so practical effects were non-negotiable. There were moments where VFX might’ve been cheaper, but we were committed.

COBALT: You don’t really know until you see it on screen.

CHRIS: Exactly. Then you feel it. It paid off in the final film’s VHS-era horror influences — specific textures, effects, moments that are almost like a collage of genre DNA.

COBALT: Those references really resonate with horror fans.

CHRIS: That’s the idea – making a true thriller that rewards repeat viewing the way Cloverfield did when I was a kid – details you only catch the second or third time.

COBALT: So what was it like discovering Cobalt?

CHRIS:  We were looking for a studio space that qualified for our tax incentive – that’s probably how a lot of feature films end up at Cobalt. And when I first saw the space, and then started talking with them, I was like, Oh, this feels nice. They’ll take care of us. I had a good feeling, but I had to convince the LA team. We set up a virtual tour, and they were in.

COBALT: Nice – and how did that shift your process?

CHRIS: We had originally planned to build this lab set inside a barn on location, but it quickly became clear the barn hadn’t been touched in decades and it wasn’t realistic. 

Moving to Cobalt gave us flexibility—and honestly, a lot of comfort. By that point in the schedule, everyone was pretty desperate to get out of the house. So Cobalt was like a production reset.

We really just needed a black box that qualified for New York tax rebates, but Cobalt’s production support and infrastructure – the parking, the office space – made us so much more comfortable. Taking some of the logistical pressure off completely changed how we were able to operate day to day. Suddenly we had air conditioning, space, amenities – it set us up to do our jobs better. 

COBALT: Stuff you only notice when it’s missing.

CHRIS: Exactly – we could finally decompress. 

COBALT: Would you approach anything differently next time?

CHRIS: Not necessarily—but knowing Cobalt existed changed how we worked. Having the ability to make backup plans alone made a huge difference. 

COBALT:
For production, that flexibility isn’t a luxury.

CHRIS: 
Cobalt gave us a way to pivot plans without compromising the vision – it definitely shows in the finished film and director BT even gave Kara a “Special Thanks” in the credits.

🎥

Summer in Woodstock Starts Here!

Summer is here, and the Cobalt Team is excited to welcome both new clients and familiar faces as we showcase everything Woodstock has to offer.

While we’ve been busy all season supporting the many events happening throughout the area, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to share them with you. We encourage our friends, clients, business partners, and talent to get out and experience all the incredible attractions, activities, and events that make Woodstock so special—both on and off the stage.

June Events

Saturday, June 6

Maverick Concerts Reopens for the season!

Enjoy an unforgettable evening at Maverick Concerts, where world-class musicians perform in the iconic open-air concert hall nestled in the heart of the Catskills. From classical masterpieces to contemporary performances, experience exceptional music in a one-of-a-kind setting surrounded by nature and rich artistic history.

Saturday, June 13

Waterfall Sessions III at the Woodstock Way Hotel

Enjoy an evening of live music, local vendors, food and drinks, and family-friendly fun at Waterfall Sessions III. Set beside the waterfall at Woodstock Way Hotel, this community gathering brings together great performances and Catskills charm in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Saturday, June 27

Dinner Under the Open Sky with the Poughkeepsie Farm Project

Explore the Farm Project’s vibrant lineup of workshops, farm dinners, family activities, and community gatherings. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, connect with local food and agriculture, or simply enjoy a day on the farm, these events offer a unique way to experience the Hudson Valley’s rich farming culture.

July Events

All Summer Long

Hudson Valley Movie Night by Upstate Films

Enjoy a night of independent film screenings, documentaries, and curated cinematic experiences at Upstate Films. Known for bringing thoughtful, engaging films to the community, it’s a welcoming space to discover stories on the big screen and connect with fellow film lovers.

Friday, July 3

The Pink Floyd Project at Colony Woodstock

Enjoy an evening of electrifying live music with The Pink Floyd Project, a tribute experience celebrating the legendary sound of Pink Floyd. Featuring immersive performances of classic albums and iconic songs, this show blends rich musicianship with atmospheric lighting and sound. Settle in for a memorable night of timeless rock in a captivating live setting.

Saturday, July 11 and 18

Alice In Wonderland at the Woodstock Playhouse

Step into the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland at Woodstock Playhouse, where Alice’s journey down the rabbit hole comes to life on stage. Filled with colorful characters, music, and imaginative staging, this family-friendly production brings Lewis Carroll’s classic tale to a magical live-theater experience.

August Events

August 14 – 16

The Woodstock Festival of Awakening by Krishna Das

Join a powerful weekend of music, chanting, and community connection at the Woodstock Festival of Awakening with Krishna Das. Set in the heart of Woodstock, this immersive gathering brings together sacred kirtan, live performances, yoga, and reflective talks in a vibrant celebration of sound and spirit. Experience a welcoming space where music becomes meditation and community comes together in shared presence and awakening.

August 20

Joyce Manor at the Bearsville Theater

Catch a night of high-energy pop-punk with Joyce Manor at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, where the California trio brings their fast, heartfelt, and razor-sharp songs to the stage. Known for their short, explosive sets and cult-favorite anthems, the band delivers a loud, cathartic live experience in an intimate Catskills setting.

Why Creative Spaces Matter More Than Ever.

In today’s production landscape, content moves fast. Deadlines are tighter, expectations are higher, and the margin for error is smaller than ever. But while technology continues to evolve, one thing hasn’t changed: great work still starts with the right environment.

At Cobalt, we’ve always believed that a production space should do more than simply “hold” a project. It should support creativity, remove friction, and give teams the confidence to focus on what they do best — the work.

That’s why every decision we make — from stage design and infrastructure to client support and on-site experience — is built around the people creating the work. Producers need reliability. Directors need flexibility. Crews need efficiency. Talent needs comfort. When those elements come together, productions run smoother, collaboration improves, and the final result speaks for itself.

The reality is that creative work is demanding enough on its own. The studio experience shouldn’t add stress to the process. It should elevate it.

We’ve seen firsthand how the right environment changes the energy of a production day. Teams communicate better. Problems get solved faster. Creativity flows more naturally. And ultimately, clients walk away feeling supported, not just serviced.

That’s the standard we continue to build toward at Cobalt: not just providing stages, but creating a place where productions can do their best work.

In an industry built on creativity, the space behind the scenes matters just as much as what ends up on camera.

Production, But Make It Smarter.

Production has always been a balancing act.

Big ideas on one side. Big logistics on the other.

Global travel, complex builds, tight timelines, unpredictable conditions—it’s a system that can deliver incredible results, but often at the cost of efficiency, flexibility, and budget control.

At Cobalt, that tradeoff is no longer a given.

Led by Kara and Alex, and powered by a deeply integrated team of creatives, technologists, and producers, Team Cobalt is reshaping the production model from the ground up—introducing a Virtual Production pipeline designed for how modern content actually gets made.

From Physical Limits to Creative Control

The traditional model relies heavily on physical execution: moving people, building environments, waiting on the right conditions.

Cobalt flips that equation.

Through Virtual Production, environments are created digitally—highly realistic, fully immersive, and completely controllable. Lighting, location, and time of day are no longer constraints; they’re creative variables that can be adjusted instantly.

What once required multiple locations, days of travel, and extensive setup can now be achieved within a single, controlled production environment.

It’s not just more efficient—it’s more precise.

A Pipeline Built for Speed and Scale

What sets Team Cobalt apart isn’t just the technology—it’s how the entire pipeline is structured around it.

Rather than separating pre-production, production, and post into rigid phases, Cobalt integrates them into a continuous workflow. Creative, technical, and production teams collaborate in real time, allowing for faster decision-making and immediate iteration.

This level of integration reduces friction at every stage. Concepts are visualized earlier. Adjustments happen faster. Execution becomes more predictable.

The result is a production process that scales—without the usual growing pains.

Efficiency That Actually Moves the Needle

For clients, the impact is tangible.

By reducing travel, minimizing physical builds, and compressing timelines, Team Cobalt’s Virtual Production pipeline delivers significant cost savings—often in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars per project.

These efficiencies aren’t achieved by compromising quality, but by eliminating outdated processes that no longer serve the work.

It’s a smarter allocation of resources, aligned with how production can—and should—operate today.

Expanding What’s Creatively Possible

With greater control and fewer constraints, creative teams gain something that’s often lost in traditional production: freedom.

Freedom to explore multiple directions without exponential cost increases.
Freedom to refine ideas in real time.
Freedom to push concepts further, knowing the pipeline can support it.

For directors, brands, and agencies, this means better creative outcomes—not just faster ones.

A New Standard for Production

Kara and Alex may have helped spark the shift over the past ten years, but it’s Team Cobalt as a whole that brings it to life—combining expertise across disciplines to deliver a production model that’s built for scale, speed, and creative excellence.

This isn’t a workaround. It’s not a niche solution.

It’s a new standard.

Because when production is no longer defined by its limitations, the focus shifts to what really matters:

What you create—and how far you can take it.

What’s New at Cobalt

It’s been a busy stretch over here at Cobalt—in the best way possible. From feature films to pitches to game shows (yes, really), we’ve had our hands in a little bit of everything lately.
Here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to:

• Lights, camera… two features.
  We’ve been tapped to produce two feature films, and things are already off to a strong start. Both projects have had their budgets approved by NYS—bringing the combined total to $13.2 million. Not a bad way to kick things off. We’re excited to keep the momentum going as these move closer to production.



• Helping a great idea find its voice.
  We recently teamed up with a client preparing a pitch to Vox, jumping in to provide EFX consulting along the way. There’s something especially fun about being part of a project at this stage—helping shape the vision, fine-tune the details, and get everything ready for the spotlight.
• And now… a game show!
  We’ve also been asked to produce a game show, which is always a fun change of pace. We love working in unscripted formats and bringing high-energy projects like this to life. From development through production, it’s all about creating something that’s engaging, fast-moving, and fun to watch.

All in all, it’s been a season of variety—big projects, great collaborators, and plenty of exciting work in motion. Exactly the way we like it.
Got something in the works?
Let’s make it happen.

When people talk about a production’s “secret weapon,” they often picture something that happens on set.

A clever rig.
A last-minute solution.
Someone figuring out how to make a tricky shot work when the clock is ticking.

And while we enjoy those moments as much as anyone…

The truth is, the real advantage usually starts much earlier.

A lot of what determines whether a shoot runs smoothly happens during preparation.

It’s in the early conversations.
During the pitch.
In pre-production meetings when someone asks a deceptively simple question:

Should we shoot this practically or virtually?

That question alone can shape an entire production.

And it’s exactly the kind of conversation we love being part of.

Every project has its own creative goals, constraints, and opportunities.

Sometimes the best solution is building something practically.
Sometimes Virtual Production opens doors that would otherwise be impossible.
And sometimes the smartest approach lives somewhere in between.

Our role is to help productions think through those options early — before schedules tighten and decisions become harder to change.

Not to push a particular tool or technology, but to help find the approach that makes the most sense for the project.



Most of the Cobalt team comes from production backgrounds, so we tend to look at things the same way producers do.

They just quietly make things work.

How will this actually work on set?
What’s the most efficient way to execute it?
Is there a smarter workflow?

Those kinds of questions can make a huge difference once the cameras roll.

And answering them early often saves time, budget, and a few headaches down the line.

Yes, we have a stage.
Yes, we have a lot of interesting toys.

But one of the things we enjoy most is being part of the thinking process — helping producers and creatives explore different approaches and find the one that fits their idea best.

Sometimes that leads to a new technique.
Sometimes it confirms that the original plan is exactly right.

Either way, the goal is the same: make the production stronger before the shoot even begins.

If you’re developing a concept, building a pitch, or figuring out the best way to execute a complex shot, we’re always happy to talk through ideas.

Those early conversations often shape the entire production.

And when that happens, everything that follows tends to run a whole lot smoother.