Gamma Studios Launches Virtual Production Facility in Dubai with Sony Technologies
Gamma Studios announced the launch of its new virtual production facility, the Digital Media Center, at Dubai Production City, aimed at supporting filmmakers and production teams in the region and bolstering the growing film and media production sectors in the United Arab Emirates.
The center provides a specialized environment for filmmakers, directors, directors of photography, and production crews to explore and test virtual production applications, from planning and pre-production stages through to the execution of production work, leveraging the expertise and technologies provided by Sony Middle East and Africa.
The company explained that the center is built on an integrated operational system that connects Sony devices and components to various stages of the production workflow, transferring practical expertise directly to users within the facility. It added that the center’s design is based on three interconnected elements: technologies, workflow mechanisms that unify its components, and applied knowledge delivered through a training center established specifically within the building.
The launch event was attended by media representatives, content creators, and partners, who were presented with the facility’s capabilities in combining Sony’s cinematic expertise with virtual production and live production technologies within a single environment, allowing specialists to assess the suitability of these technologies for their creative and operational needs.
Joseph Qasmani, founder of Gamma Studios, stated that demand for virtual production is accelerating, driven by global production companies choosing the UAE as a destination for their operations, particularly in light of the production cost rebate programs offered. He added that the company anticipated this shift early on, prompting it to expand into virtual production and invest in advanced solutions for the facility, noting that Sony’s solution emerged after evaluating available market options due to its cutting-edge technologies and end-to-end workflow integration.
Qasmani clarified that the center includes, alongside Sony’s Digital Media Center and its dedicated training facility, a fully equipped service center to support quality control processes, emphasizing that these capabilities provide a practical environment for filmmakers, producers, and creative teams to experiment, learn, and expand production horizons.
For his part, Jopin Gujju, Managing Director of Sony Middle East and Africa, said that the launch of the Digital Media Center represents a significant step in the company’s investment journey in the region’s creative ecosystem. He added that the center offers a dedicated space for specialists and creatives to explore the latest technologies and solutions, alongside a practical environment for production, workshops, and direct exposure to workflow mechanisms, helping industry professionals deepen their understanding of the technology and evaluate the potential of virtual production in their projects.
Sony’s integrated “360 Solution for Virtual Production” forms the core of the facility’s technical setup, supporting various stages of the workflow, from planning and pre-production through to production. The solution is anchored by Sony’s Verona LED display wall, with a pixel pitch of 1.5 millimeters, which the company describes as the largest installation of its kind globally and the first Verona screen with this pixel pitch in the Middle East.
The facility includes dedicated spaces for production planning, technology showcases, and hands-on exploration of workflow mechanisms. It also enables directors and directors of photography to visualize scenes and plan shooting operations using a range of Sony technologies, including the Venice 2 and Burano digital cinema cameras, the Ocellus camera tracking system, the Virtual Production Tool Set, and the FR7 camera.
Gamma Studios aims for the Digital Media Center to become a key resource for the region’s growing creative economy, aligning with efforts to enhance the UAE’s position as a global hub for media and content production.
