Welcome. It's truly remarkable what can be achieved today. Finding or building the "perfect" location has always been one of the industry's greatest challenges. Now, the boundaries of what's possible are dissolving.
L.A. Castle Studios in Burbank and the new ABQ Castle Studios in Albuquerque are built to craft these impossible worlds. The power of Unreal Engine technology on these virtual production stages provides a level of creative control and flexibility that was pure science fiction just years ago.
This environment is a stunning example of modern, sophisticated design. The blend of sweeping curves, rich textures, and minimalist principles creates a space that feels both expensive and artistic. Let's call this set "The Gallery Penthouse."
Here is how this virtual location can be leveraged for a variety of projects.
This set is a storyteller's dream for a high-concept thriller or a sleek science-fiction drama.
Scene Idea (Thriller): This is the "gilded cage" of a tech billionaire under house arrest. The open-plan design and arched windows create a sense of vastness but also exposure—there's nowhere to hide. The reflective gold ceiling dome can be used for distorted, paranoid top-down shots, making the character always feel watched. The Kaws figure in the corner isn't just art; it's a "companion" security android, its unblinking "X" eyes becoming a sinister motif.
Unreal Engine Advantage: The "view" outside those arches can be changed instantly. One moment it's a futuristic, rain-slicked skyline. The next, it's a desolate desert landscape, reflecting the character's isolation. All of this is captured in-camera, giving the actors a real, immersive world to perform in.
For a prestige streaming series, this is a signature "hero" set, establishing character and tone from the first frame.
Scene Idea (Prestige Drama): This is the main living area for a powerful, dysfunctional family. That large, curved sofa is where tense family meetings happen, its shape forcing them to face each other. The minimalist, almost sterile environment contrasts perfectly with the messy, complex emotions of the characters. Intricate "walk-and-talk" scenes can be blocked to move from the sofa, past the fireplace, and into the hallway, all in one seamless shot on the LED volume.
Unreal Engine Advantage: This set can be a standing location for six seasons without occupying a square foot of physical stage space. It can be recalled perfectly at the Burbank studio for Season 1 and just as easily loaded at the Albuquerque facility for Season 2 pickups, ensuring perfect continuity.
This location screams luxury, aspiration, and high design. It's ideal for branding a high-end product.
Scene Idea (Luxury Car): With Unreal Engine, a car isn't just near the set; it can be brought inside. Imagine a sleek, black sedan parked on the chevron floor, its finish reflecting in the gold ceiling. The lighting is soft, controlled, and perfect. The message is clear: this car belongs in a work of art. This set also works perfectly for a premium watch, a designer fragrance, or a high-end financial services ad.
Unreal Engine Advantage: The reflective surfaces—the floor, the ceiling dome—are a nightmare for a traditional crew. In this virtual environment, directors have total control. Every single reflection can be art-directed, the camera's reflection can be removed, and the exact "golden hour" light from the arches can be dialed in for the entire 10-hour shoot day.
This set provides a clean, dynamic canvas for an artist to command.
Scene Idea (Pop/R&B Artist): The artist performs in the center, on the circular rug. The camera circles them, and with each pass, the world outside the arches transforms to the beat—a nebula, a forest, a pulsing city. Unreal Engine can be used to animate the set itself, making the textures on the curved sofa "breathe" or having light from the gold ceiling cascade down in time with the music. It becomes a responsive, living part of the performance.
Unreal Engine Advantage: This is pure creative freedom. This isn't just shooting in a location; it's collaborating with it. Any visual idea, any impossible effect, can be programmed and executed live, allowing the director and artist to discover new creative avenues right on set.
Beyond entertainment, this set is a powerful tool for business and design.
Scene Idea (Corporate Branding): This is the setting for a high-profile "fireside chat" with a CEO or a keynote presentation. It's infinitely more compelling than a standard office or a green screen. It positions the company as forward-thinking, design-conscious, and successful.
Unreal Engine Advantage: For architects or real estate developers, this isn't just a render; it's an interactive, photorealistic walkthrough of an unbuilt luxury property. Clients can "stand" in the room, change the sofa fabric, the wood on the floor, or the time of day, all in real-time.
This is the power of virtual production. A set like "The Gallery Penthouse" isn't just a backdrop; it's a creative partner. It’s a world of quiet luxury and bold design, ready to be customized, manipulated, and scaled to fit any story. This is a space to build something incredible.
Welcome. It's truly remarkable what can be achieved today. Finding or building the "perfect" location has always been one of the industry's greatest challenges. Now, the boundaries of what's possible are dissolving.
L.A. Castle Studios in Burbank and the new ABQ Castle Studios in Albuquerque are built to craft these impossible worlds. The power of Unreal Engine technology on these virtual production stages provides a level of creative control and flexibility that was pure science fiction just years ago.
This environment is a stunning example of modern, sophisticated design. The blend of sweeping curves, rich textures, and minimalist principles creates a space that feels both expensive and artistic. Let's call this set "The Gallery Penthouse."
Here is how this virtual location can be leveraged for a variety of projects.
This set is a storyteller's dream for a high-concept thriller or a sleek science-fiction drama.
Scene Idea (Thriller): This is the "gilded cage" of a tech billionaire under house arrest. The open-plan design and arched windows create a sense of vastness but also exposure—there's nowhere to hide. The reflective gold ceiling dome can be used for distorted, paranoid top-down shots, making the character always feel watched. The Kaws figure in the corner isn't just art; it's a "companion" security android, its unblinking "X" eyes becoming a sinister motif.
Unreal Engine Advantage: The "view" outside those arches can be changed instantly. One moment it's a futuristic, rain-slicked skyline. The next, it's a desolate desert landscape, reflecting the character's isolation. All of this is captured in-camera, giving the actors a real, immersive world to perform in.
For a prestige streaming series, this is a signature "hero" set, establishing character and tone from the first frame.
Scene Idea (Prestige Drama): This is the main living area for a powerful, dysfunctional family. That large, curved sofa is where tense family meetings happen, its shape forcing them to face each other. The minimalist, almost sterile environment contrasts perfectly with the messy, complex emotions of the characters. Intricate "walk-and-talk" scenes can be blocked to move from the sofa, past the fireplace, and into the hallway, all in one seamless shot on the LED volume.
Unreal Engine Advantage: This set can be a standing location for six seasons without occupying a square foot of physical stage space. It can be recalled perfectly at the Burbank studio for Season 1 and just as easily loaded at the Albuquerque facility for Season 2 pickups, ensuring perfect continuity.
This location screams luxury, aspiration, and high design. It's ideal for branding a high-end product.
Scene Idea (Luxury Car): With Unreal Engine, a car isn't just near the set; it can be brought inside. Imagine a sleek, black sedan parked on the chevron floor, its finish reflecting in the gold ceiling. The lighting is soft, controlled, and perfect. The message is clear: this car belongs in a work of art. This set also works perfectly for a premium watch, a designer fragrance, or a high-end financial services ad.
Unreal Engine Advantage: The reflective surfaces—the floor, the ceiling dome—are a nightmare for a traditional crew. In this virtual environment, directors have total control. Every single reflection can be art-directed, the camera's reflection can be removed, and the exact "golden hour" light from the arches can be dialed in for the entire 10-hour shoot day.
This set provides a clean, dynamic canvas for an artist to command.
Scene Idea (Pop/R&B Artist): The artist performs in the center, on the circular rug. The camera circles them, and with each pass, the world outside the arches transforms to the beat—a nebula, a forest, a pulsing city. Unreal Engine can be used to animate the set itself, making the textures on the curved sofa "breathe" or having light from the gold ceiling cascade down in time with the music. It becomes a responsive, living part of the performance.
Unreal Engine Advantage: This is pure creative freedom. This isn't just shooting in a location; it's collaborating with it. Any visual idea, any impossible effect, can be programmed and executed live, allowing the director and artist to discover new creative avenues right on set.
Beyond entertainment, this set is a powerful tool for business and design.
Scene Idea (Corporate Branding): This is the setting for a high-profile "fireside chat" with a CEO or a keynote presentation. It's infinitely more compelling than a standard office or a green screen. It positions the company as forward-thinking, design-conscious, and successful.
Unreal Engine Advantage: For architects or real estate developers, this isn't just a render; it's an interactive, photorealistic walkthrough of an unbuilt luxury property. Clients can "stand" in the room, change the sofa fabric, the wood on the floor, or the time of day, all in real-time.
This is the power of virtual production. A set like "The Gallery Penthouse" isn't just a backdrop; it's a creative partner. It’s a world of quiet luxury and bold design, ready to be customized, manipulated, and scaled to fit any story. This is a space to build something incredible.
