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A film studio setup featuring a large, industrial-themed backdrop with pipes and machinery. In the foreground, a camera on a dolly track and several lighting equipment are positioned on a dark studio floor. The lighting creates a dramatic ambiance.

Minister Brandes Opens VP-Stage: Germany’s First University Multi-Purpose LED‑Wall and MoCap Studio at HSHL

17.07.2025
NRW’s Ina Brandes inaugurated HSHL’s LED‑wall VFX Lab, partnered with Babelsberg, SMPTE, FKTG, ICT AG and ICT AG and research project Digital Locations – for real‑time and motion‑capture production. By students and everybody who wants to develop!

The NRW Minister for Culture and Science, Ina Brandes, officially opened the Hochschule Hamm‑Lippstadt’s (HSHL) Visual Effects Laboratory on July 16, 2025. The VFX Lab is at the core of the new bachelor programme Visual Computing and DesignVisual Effects & Virtual Productions, offering students and partners hands-on access to live LEDwall compositing, motion capture, and immersive audio technologies.

Three people engaged in a conversation at a small outdoor café setup, with tables and chairs in front of a picturesque street backdrop. One man is animatedly gesturing while the two women listen attentively, each seated on director's chairs.
(From left) Project manager Prof. Stefan Albertz explains the technology of the Visual Effect Lab to Minister Ina Brandes and HSHL President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kira Kastell in front of a scene set in Rome.

Collaboration with Leading Institutions

The VFX Lab’s launch was supported by a broad coalition of industry and academic players: Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, research initiative Digital Locations, the Fernseh und Kinotechnische Gesellschaft (FKTG), the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and systems integrator ICT AG. Together with project manager Prof. Stefan Albertz (LinkedIn) , Filmuniversität Babelsberg will cohost annual Virtual Production workshops and develop joint film projects leveraging the HSHL setup. SMPTE and FKTG bring standards, networks, and industry insight. Digital Locations ensures research integration. ICT AG has built the studio infrastructure on site, custom fitting lighting, networking, and acoustics and a one-of-a-kind tiltable mobile LED wall.

A film studio set showcasing a winter forest scene with snowy ground and tall trees in the background. Equipment like cameras and chairs are visible, emphasizing the production environment.
A film studio set showcasing a winter forest scene with snowy ground and tall trees in the background. Equipment like cameras and dolly are visible, emphasizing the production environment.

Studio Design: LED‑Wall Meets Real‑Time Pipeline

The studio features high‑resolution LED walls comprised of millions of tiny pixels, offering in‑camera compositing as footage is shot, eschewing chromakey for live visuals. Behind the scenes runs a real‑time graphics pipeline, integrating Unreal and similar engines for live background rendering.
Adjacent to the LED stage is a full‑body motion‑capture array, enabling actors’ live performance to be captured and streamed into virtual environments. This supports use cases from film and TV to games, advertising, live events, and even medical visualisation.

A film studio scene with crew members surrounding a bright spotlight focused on a female subject. Cameras are set up with various lighting, and monitors display editing software. The space is dimly lit with colorful window patterns in the background.
A film studio scene with crew members surrounding a bright spotlight focused on a female subject Cameras are set up with various lighting and monitors display editing software The space is dimly lit with colorful window patterns in the background, showcasing the pilot-production of HSHL and FU Babelsberg.

Studio Infrastructure: Tech for Production Scale

The VFX Lab is acoustically treated, air‑conditioned, and built on load‑bearing studio flooring. It features a dedicated external access ramp for large props or vehicles. Climate control supports consistent LED operation. Motion‑capture cameras are ceiling‑mounted in a tidy rig for capture accuracy; audio equipment enables 360° soundtracks.
A control room adjacent to the stage houses real‑time VFX operators, graphics workstation clusters, and network infrastructure—all connected to the LED stage and MoCap rig. The in‑camera workflow is designed for tight pipelines, enabling rapid iteration, pre‑vis, and final image captures in a single pass.

A film studio scene featuring a group of people collaborating on a set. In the background, a large screen displays a man speaking, while video and lighting equipment is arranged around the room.
A team of creative professionals collaborating in a studio, with one person focused on editing on dual computer screens displaying video editing software. Ambient lighting enhances the high-tech environment.
A film studio setup with multiple crew members working. Bright lights and cameras are positioned around a dark room. Two people are operating computer equipment, while others adjust lighting and camera angles.

Want to know everything inside? Here is a List for download – and what this all means will be explained soon in a dedicated article – or series of articles!

What This Means for HSHL and NRW

HSHL President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kira Kastell describes the VFX Lab as unique among German public universities and a milestone for practical teaching and research. Minister Brandes emphasised that producing tomorrow’s skilled VFX, audio‑video engineers, and realtime artists requires hands‑on labs like this.

A group of people observing a film production setup, with a camera rig in focus. Two individuals in the foreground, one with a clipboard, look attentively, while others watch from the background in a modern studio environment.
Minister Ina Brandes tries out the VFX Lab’s camera together with research associate Christopher Beck (left) and project manager Prof. Stefan Albertz.

Looking Ahead: Workshops, Projects, Innovation

Annual workshops with Babelsberg students are already planned. Project‑led efforts under Digital Locations, in partnership with SMPTE and FKTG, will explore live‑production pipelines, real‑time workflows, and standards. ICT AG will continue supporting technical expansion as new use cases emerge.

And a deep dive into the technology, features, and every included tool and possible use case is already in the works – Prof. Stefan Albertz promised us in our Podcast!

Bela Beier Author