More immersive, imaginative dramas on the cards as Mediacorp makes maiden foray into virtual production for scripted content
Singapore, 5 December 2023 – A riveting fight scene in an ancient Chinese palace; two lovebirds embracing in an endless field of flowers; or a casual conversation between two characters set against a backdrop of olden day Singapore – scenes such as these will soon make their way into more Mediacorp dramas, thanks to the magic of virtual production. Announcing this today on the opening day of the Asia TV Forum & Market 2023, Mediacorp said that it has begun introducing virtual sets into its scripted content, starting with two Chinese drama series.
A first for Singapore’s largest content creator, virtual production marks a quantum leap forward in Mediacorp’s efforts to constantly innovate and augment its storytelling and production capabilities. With virtual production, Mediacorp will leverage cutting-edge technology to push the boundaries of creativity by seamlessly integrating real-world elements with computer-generated environments. This gives producers more creative license to deliver on ambitious concepts and storylines which were hitherto challenging due to logistical constraints, minimising the need for extensive physical sets and location shoots. The result is stunning visual effects which create a more immersive, dynamic and richer experience for audiences.
One of the key benefits of virtual production is that it opens the door to more diverse storytelling, allowing a show to easily transition between different cultural, historical, and futuristic settings. In this regard, Mediacorp is pleased to announce two dramas that have incorporated virtual production technology:
- Stranger in the Dark – This is a drama about an outcast in school, who uses her vivid imagination to help solve various mysteries. Virtual production allowed the production team to work with a dynamic canvas, where the protagonist could be “transported” to different locations as well as time periods that were once deemed too challenging to depict.
- Once Upon a New Year’s Eve – In this series, the main protagonist runs into a man from the future, who helps him travel back in time to different stages of his life to make amends with his family members. Virtual production serves as a powerful tool to bring the time-travel narrative to life by recreating authentic historical settings and imaginary landscapes. Audiences will find themselves “transported” back in time to buildings and scenes that no longer exist, such as Singapore’s old National Library and National Theatre.
Virginia Lim, Chief Content Officer, Mediacorp, said, “The fusion of creativity and technology in virtual production opens new dimensions for storytelling, allowing us to explore a wide array of genres and scenes deemed too challenging for traditional TV production. In addition, it allows us to minimise our ecological footprint by reducing the reliance on physical sets, reinforcing our steadfast commitment to sustainability.”
Stranger in the Dark is now available on mewatch, while Once Upon a New Year’s Eve will debut in early 2024.
