Lux Aeterna
Lux Aeterna worked with The Sheds to test how generative AI and virtual production can be used in real-world filmmaking. The project provided a low-risk environment to explore new creative workflows, evaluate their impact and support responsible innovation.
The problem
Generative AI is creating new opportunities for filmmakers, but there is still uncertainty around how these technologies can be used effectively in professional production environments. Beyond the creative possibilities, organisations need to understand the practical implications of adopting AI tools, including workflow integration, creative control, legal considerations and ethical responsibility.
Lux Aeterna wanted to explore how generative AI and other emerging technologies could be applied in film production, while also assessing their practicality, efficiency and wider impact on the creative industries.
The solution
Working at The Sheds, Lux Aeterna produced a short film using a combination of generative AI, virtual production and extended reality technologies. The project drew on multiple facilities across The Sheds, including the virtual production stage, XR capabilities and post-production environments, enabling the team to explore new workflows from concept through to delivery.
The project used the virtual production stage not only to achieve its distinctive visual style, but also as a practical testbed for integrating AI into visual effects workflows. This allowed the team to evaluate how emerging technologies could support production while maintaining creative oversight and editorial control.
The impact
The project demonstrated practical ways of combining AI and virtual production within real-world filmmaking. The findings contributed to the development of an ethical AI toolkit designed to help the creative industries adopt emerging technologies responsibly.
The work has also helped shape wider industry conversations around AI. Project findings have been shared with creative practitioners, academics and policymakers, including through events hosted by Westminster Forum, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the British Film Institute. Across these events, the team has presented its research to more than 1,500 industry professionals, policymakers and invited audiences.