Developing an industrial workflow for virtual production filmmaking

Abstract

Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, recent discourse has positioned VP as a radical approach capable of reimagining conventional filmmaking workflows through real-time technologies. However, such accounts often privilege high-profile case studies and promotional narratives, obscuring the practical constraints and realities, organisational demands, and workflow implications that shape VP filmmaking. This article examines VP through a workflow-centred perspective, focussing on how VP is planned, coordinated, and implemented across different production contexts, rather than treating it solely as a technological endeavour. Drawing on interviews with industry professionals working in China, the UK, and the USA, the study identifies a critical ‘pre-development’ phase in which stakeholders assess creative intentions, technical feasibility, and resource allocation prior to formal pre-production. The findings unveil that VP workflows are highly project-specific rather than standardised, and that early decision-making plays a decisive role in mitigating technical pitfalls, budget escalation, and scheduling delays. Ultimately, the article proposes a workflow framework that emphasises the central coordinating role of the Studio Manager and the importance of structured planning before formal production begins. In doing so, the study contributes a practice-based account of VP that foregrounds workflow organisation, coordination, and decision-making as critical factors in contemporary VP filmmaking.