Behind the scenes with 3PEAK Studio

As virtual production continues to reshape the way stories are brought to life, Cape Town’s 3PEAK Studio is helping filmmakers push creative boundaries without leaving the studio floor. From immersive LED volume technology and live streaming to large-scale commercial productions, the studio combines innovation with practical problem-solving, giving directors and producers greater flexibility while complementing traditional location filming.

This week, we catch up with Graeme Lay, from 3PEAK Studio, to chat about the studio’s journey from a pandemic-born idea to one of Cape Town’s leading virtual production facilities.

Q. What inspired the creation of the studio, and what gap did you see in the local production landscape?

The idea for 3Peak Studio was born out of COVID. At the time corporate companies needed some way to stream live to their client base. The first version of 3Peak Studio wasn’t what it is today, but the need for professional live streaming with an LED wall started the whole thing.

Q. How has your LED volume and capabilities changed the way productions approach storytelling and problem-solving?

Productions can be shot a lot quicker because we don’t need to move from location to location. Depending on the script most or all the scenes can be shot in a LED wall studio. From a Producer point of view it creates far fewer logistical headaches and reduces the chances of things going wrong in a production environment. It certainly solves weather problems as we can proceed regardless of the outside conditions. We have even done shoots set in the opposite season to when it is being shot.

Q. Is there a particular project that challenged your team creatively or technically, and what made it memorable?

We shot a production for a large vehicle tracking company & they needed to shoot with a large Scania truck in front of our LED wall. The truck is almost 4m in height & I was worried about how we would even get it into the studio. An expert driver was brought in & parked the truck parallel to the LED wall & we had moving content behind it making it look like it was driving on a road. 

Q. What are some of the biggest misconceptions clients have before stepping onto the LED stage?

Some people think it is like shooting with a green screen. I always say comparing a green screen to an LED wall studio is like comparing a bicycle with a Ferrari. A green screen still creates a lot of work in post production & can cause spill onto any shiny surface. Shooting with an LED wall – the background is already in the shot & we place the cast in that environment by also using the art department & props. The LED wall is a light source & the background can be instantly made brighter or lighter. We can also change the contrast instantly & put the content slightly out of focus to help the director & DOP.

Q. How do you see virtual production complementing traditional location filming rather than replacing it?

Virtual production will never replace location shooting, but it can help the production team with difficult shots. If you have scenes that are rooftop, hospital, airport or harbour scenes, getting the logistics or permission to shoot these can be difficult. An LED wall studio can help make these shots relatively easy. I think traditional location filming & virtual production can work together to make an overall production run more smoothly.

Q. Looking back, which project best showcases what 3PEAK Studio is capable of, and why?

We did a production for Ackermans that featured multiple locations & it was all shot inside our studio. There was even a beach scene & we brought in real beach sand & put it onto plastic sheets in front of the LED wall. Then we had moving content with waves coming in & the cast was on the beach. 

Q. How does your team collaborate with directors, cinematographers and producers to turn ambitious ideas into reality?

Often there are technical questions, such as what frame rate to shoot with & what format the content needs to be in to display on the LED wall. I give many online & in person tours of the LED wall for advertising agencies & film production companies, so they can understand what it is like to shoot with an LED wall. 

Q. Beyond the technology itself, what skills and expertise are essential for running a successful virtual production studio, and how has your team evolved alongside the industry?

To listen carefully to what the film production company or advertising agency wants to achieve as the end result. It is important to manage expectations & give them an idea of what is possible. 

Q. What opportunities do you believe facilities like 3PEAK Studio create for local crews, creatives and the broader film economy?

I think creativity can be stretched even further for the end client from an advertising agency point of view, as we can create almost any location without leaving the studio. AI has also been used to create some of the backgrounds on our LED wall – this can create a lot of work for crew working in AI for a custom made background for a specific production.

What’s next for 3PEAK Studio, and what excites you most about the future of filmmaking in Cape Town?

Budgets have been tight in the film industry across South Africa. I would love to see bigger budget productions coming back to SA & I would love the studio to be involved in a big feature film. With bigger budgets we are also able to invest in even more technology. The studio is also acoustically treated so we can shoot with audio, which also makes it perfect for live streaming & hosting brand activations & events.

To view some of the work 3PEAK Studio has done, click here.