Time Bandits

To create the multiple worlds needed for the Apple TV+ show, the production team’s Max Serges (Production VFX Producer), and Tobias Wolters (Production VFX Supervisor) came to Dimension and DNEG 360. We worked closely with them and the Academy Award-winning filmmaker on a ‘script-to-screen’ approach to integrating our industry-leading virtual production pipeline.

Our unique script to screen approach means that our virtual production team gets involved right from the start, and is a key part of the production team at every step along the way. This way, Dimension’s expertise in real-time production is used not just in creating stunning virtual worlds, but also in identifying where virtual production would have the most impact, in order to create the most immersive visual experience for audiences.

Watch how our innovative script-to-screen approach allowed the team to create world-hop for ‘Time Bandits’ below.

Expansive World-Building

Crafting the show’s 3D worlds which would eventually be brought to life on a volume started immediately. On a two-week scouting trip led by Tobias, a team captured multi-camera footage from helicopters over glaciers and forests. At the same time, an art department started creating extensive miniatures and maquettes which started building the visual language of the show.

Dimension and DNEG 360 quickly set up a virtual art department (VAD) to make the best use of these assets. We flew a crew to New Zealand, who immediately set about 3D scanning objects and using reference material to begin building LED volume assets.

Time Bandits is a world-hopping adventure like no other, and features a huge range of visually-rich locations. For some of these - like a Mayan village, we used a hybrid approach to creating the meticulously-detailed virtual environment. We combined real footage of mountains with 3D scans of Mayan huts and a miniature of a red pyramid. We populated the village with digital trees, wildlife, and goats, while motion captured actors were added as background characters.

Dimension’s unrivalled real-time workflow allowed us to make changes during review sessions, cycling through different options for the environment; a process that takes days or even weeks in a traditional pipeline. This benefit of virtual production is one that the production team was most impressed with - Tobias commented that, “there were certain moments when we were shooting, where it just became obvious to everyone that this was absolutely the right decision to go with virtual production.”

Aligning Virtual & Physical Sets

The benefits of our virtual production team being a key part of the on-set production team was evident throughout production. Working with the art and props departments for example, saw our VAD bridge physical and digital worlds. We used photogrammetry and LiDAR to scan real objects that were used when building virtual scenes.

At the same time the art and props teams could reference our digital materials and textures to build practical elements. This cross-collaboration promoted a really unique consistency to the show’s production design.

Virtual Scouting

One of the great advantages of virtual production on this show was the virtual scouting that could take place – a technique that uses a camera tracker to change the perspective and view of the virtual environments on the LED volume. It means the team can meticulously plan shots and camera angles, as if they were standing on location. Director of Photography Olly Harris even placed the camera tracker on his head to take the place of the camera to experience the shot as if on location.

Virtual Production: A team sport

Using Dimension’s industry-leading virtual production workflows means that the heavy lifting of the world-building is done long before the post-production stage, which isn’t often the case when shooting with a lot of chromakey. Because our environments were built for the volume and optimised for live rendering, the transition into the post-production process was seamless.

What makes our approach to virtual production projects like this so unique is how we bring different departments together, from script to screen. This philosophy lets the entire crew - from the director and the DOP, to the prop master and costume designer - make more informed decisions and visualise how the show will look earlier on in production.

For the crew on Time Bandits, Dimension’s virtual production offered a way to experiment with world-building. They could explore creative directions, and refine camera placement through previs and tech vis – an invaluable tool for visually complex scenes that reassured the team.

For writers and filmmakers, seeing their world take shape in real-time sparks new ideas, making the filmmaking process much more dynamic. Time Bandits showcases how expansive, visually rich worlds can be built at scale to enhance storytelling with spontaneity and creative freedom.

All ten episodes of Time Bandits are available to watch on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.