Television City, the storied Los Angeles soundstage complex built in 1952, now hosts Orbital Studios, a virtual production company that brings LED volume technology to one of Hollywood's most iconic facilities. The partnership marks a major shift toward LED-based in-camera effects at a studio that once defined traditional television production.
Orbital Studios has installed multiple LED walls at Television City, the same technology the company deployed on Netflix's sci-fi thriller "Nemesis." Virtual production, which uses real-time LED volumes instead of green screen and post-production effects, has become the industry standard for prestige projects. Shows like "The Mandalorian" proved the format works at scale. Now mid-tier productions can access the same tools without traveling to specialized facilities.
Television City's move signals how legacy studios adapt or face obsolescence. The complex, which hosted "I Love Lucy," "The Carol Burnett Show," and countless game show tapings, needed reinvention. Real estate costs and changing production demands squeezed its traditional soundstage business. Virtual production offers a lifeline.
Orbital's presence at Television City democratizes access to LED volume technology. Productions no longer need to book expensive specialty stages like Stage Eleven in Toronto or Pinewood's virtual volume facilities. The setup allows directors to shoot complex visual effects in-camera, reducing post-production timelines and costs. Actors interact with environments in real time rather than performing against blank green screens, often improving performances.
Netflix's investment in "Nemesis" using Orbital's technology shows streamers prioritize efficiency. The cost-benefit analysis favors virtual production when budgets exceed certain thresholds. Television City's historic soundstages, now retrofitted with cutting-edge LED systems, bridge the gap between legacy Hollywood infrastructure and contemporary production methods.
The convergence matters for working directors, cinematographers, and VFX supervisors. LED