Photo courtesy of Netflix, photo credit Rasmus Voss

JULY 2021; Burbank, CA – Netflix’s highly anticipated new original series, 1899, is currently in production at DARK BAY’s new cutting-edge virtual production stage at Studio Babelsberg. Designed by ARRI Solutions Group for Netflix, the studio with its 55 meter-long and seven meter-high LED wall is the largest permanent LED studio for virtual film production in Europe. Megapixel’s HELIOS® LED Processing Platform was hand-picked to power this impressive LED volume.   

HELIOS is uniquely suited for such applications as its data distribution to the LED screens is provided by standard network infrastructure. This allows for quick and easy integration with other AVoIP equipment, including ARRI’s IP-based lighting technology.

With unsurpassed color accuracy and image quality, user friendliness, and NanoSync^TM technology, HELIOS is quickly becoming the LED processor of choice for In-Camera VFX productions. HELIOS provides the most accurate in-camera workflow reducing the time required to color correct content footage prior to filming. 

“The Megapixel VR HELIOS processors are great to work with. The many calibration features allow us to achieve the best image fidelity that our LED panels can achieve. The HELIOS API is very easy to work with and has full access to all the features of the processor. With the API we have been able to develop custom tools which have exactly the controls and information we need to keep our virtual productions running smoothly.” says Jesse Kretschmer, Technology Director at DARK BAY. 

About DARK WAYS GmbH: After their worldwide success with the hit series DARK (Netflix), showrunner duo Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar founded the production company DARK WAYS. With their company, they will produce quality stories and market them globally. With the series 1899 DARK WAYS starts its first production.

About DARK BAY GmbH: DARK BAY is Europe’s first permanently installed LED-studio for virtual production. Founded by DARK WAYS and Studio Babelsberg in the historic sound stages of Potsdam Babelsberg, the “Virtual Production” studio is one of the world’s largest LED installations, using state-of-the-art ROE LED-panels. In addition, industry partners ARRI, FABER A.V., and FRAMESTORE were involved in the development of the studio. DARK BAY’s first customer is the Netflix production 1899 and will offer future customers a proven setup.

About Netflix: Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with 208 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without adverts or commitments.

Find DARK BAY at www.dark-bay.com 

Find Megapixel VR at www.megapixel.design-insitu.com   

Find ARRI Solutions Group at www.arri.com/en/solutions