LED Volume & Virtual Production Work
Where the Physical Meets the Digital
Virtual production using LED volumes and Extended Reality (xR) technology represents one of the most significant shifts in how film, television, and live events are made. Rather than compositing digital environments in post-production, virtual production places actors and crew inside fully realized, camera-optimized digital worlds in real time — allowing directors, cinematographers, and talent to see and respond to the environment as it is being captured. My work in this space spans serving as Screens Producer, Unreal Engine Art Director and Lead Artist, designing and building immersive virtual environments from concept through final camera-ready execution, and working closely with DPs and Technical Directors to ensure color calibration, camera matching, lens perspective, and parallax are optimized for broadcast and film. Projects range from feature films and broadcast events to commercial production and virtual production showcase environments.
Featured Projects
Molli and Max in the Future
Art Direction, Virtual Production Screens Producer, Unreal Engine Artist, Photogrammetry Artist
I served as Unreal Engine environment artist and virtual production art director on this acclaimed sci-fi romantic comedy written and directed by Michael Lukk Litwak, starring Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari. The film — produced in association with Choreografx — premiered at SXSW in 2023, was released theatrically in 2024 by Level 33 Entertainment, and is currently streaming on Apple TV. My contribution focused on establishing the main environmental look of key virtual production sets, building the foundation that the film’s art director could work from and modify directly throughout production. I also performed photogrammetry of physical set piece miniatures, digitizing them and integrating them into the virtual scenes to blend practical and digital elements seamlessly. The film holds a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Virtual Production Screens Producer, Virtual Production Art Director
“Dressed for a Dream” Mercedes Vice Cinderella Fashion Show
As Virtual Production Screens Producer and Unreal Engine Art Director for this groundbreaking fashion show produced by Vice for Mercedes-Benz and Sony Pictures, featuring Billy Porter. The show was filmed during a residency by Choreografx at ZeroSpace in Manhattan, where our team set up and operated the first-ever xR space in New York City. Working within the xR pipeline, I was responsible for designing the virtual environments that appeared on the LED volume screens, collaborating closely with the production team to ensure the digital world integrated seamlessly with the physical set, lighting, and performance. The result was a Cinderella-themed broadcast event that merged fashion, storytelling, and cutting-edge virtual production technology.
Co-Director, Art Director, Designer, Editor, Post Production Effects artist
Analog Swirls in Digital Whirls
“Analog Swirls in Digital Whirls” is an Extended Reality (xR) dance film exploring the merging of human movement and digital technology. I initiated the concept and served as Co-Director, Art Director, Designer, Editor, and Post Production Effects artist on the project, collaborating with choreographer Lauren Beirne of Lauren Beirne Dance Works and composer Rajeev Maddela of Currency Audio. The film was shot using Disguise xR virtual sets and in-camera special effects, allowing the director, camera operator, and talent to see the full visual environment in real time on set — eliminating lengthy post-production review cycles and allowing the team to make confident creative decisions throughout the shoot day. I art directed the visual content, designed the circuitry elements that form the visual language of the piece, and worked with Notch designers Bryan Dodson and Ted Pallas to integrate the technology. After production wrapped, I handled all editing and post effects. The result is a layered exploration of the boundary between analog movement and digital signal, using xR as both a tool and a subject.
For more information about this project, see the full portfolio entry at: https://michellepdodson.com/portfolio/analog-swirls-in-digital-whirls/