Christie Virtual Projection FIRST LOOK | JB&A Pre-NAB 2025

At this year’s JB&A Pre-NAB Show, industry leaders gathered once again in Las Vegas to preview the cutting-edge technologies set to redefine media production. But among the showcase of innovation, one demonstration stood out — a collaborative unveiling between JB&A and Christie Digital that introduced a new concept: virtual projection.

Breaking the Mold of Virtual Production

Virtual production, once the domain of sprawling LED walls and massive studio investments, has become synonymous with high cost and complexity. The Christie Digital team, led by Chris Barnett, set out to rewrite that script. Instead of relying on LED volumes, their approach uses high-frame-rate projection technology to deliver the immersive, responsive environments filmmakers crave — without the logistical overhead.
“Maintenance alone on LED walls can cost six figures monthly,” Barnett explained. “We’re flipping that model by replacing the wall with projection — specifically, a high-performance system running Christie’s Mirage Pro, capable of up to 480 frames per second.”

What Makes Virtual Projection Different?

At its core, virtual projection maintains all the benefits of in-camera visual effects and real-time interactivity — but simplifies the process. With projectors, there’s no concern about dead pixels, inconsistent color panels, or moray patterns. The Mirage Pro’s sub-frame rendering enables advanced light manipulation that creates seamless green screen and in-camera effects — simultaneously.
One standout example: the system can project a green screen for one camera while rendering a scenic background for another — allowing real-time decision-making and post-production flexibility all at once.

Built from Industry-Trusted Tools

What makes this even more exciting is the ecosystem supporting the demo. Rather than inventing a closed solution, Christie and JB&A integrated industry-standard gear:

RED Digital V-Raptor cameras
AJA sync and recording equipment
Kino Flo RGBWW LED lights for image-based lighting
VisRT graphics and tracking software
Silver Draft compute engines and Assimilate Live FX
And many more…

These off-the-shelf components, integrated intelligently, form a system that’s powerful, scalable, and — crucially — accessible.

Accessibility for the Future of Content Creation

The mission behind this breakthrough is clear: make virtual production viable for more creators. Whether it’s broadcast, commercial, corporate, education, or even YouTube studios, the cost and complexity of LED-driven setups have left many on the sidelines.
“This is about accessibility,” Barnett said. “Studios that invested heavily in LED systems are struggling with business models that don’t scale. Our goal is to reduce that barrier — to ‘drop a zero’ off the cost.”
With virtual projection, production crews can now enjoy real-time environments that enhance performance, eliminate post bottlenecks, and reduce psychological fatigue — all while maintaining broadcast-quality results.

See It in Action

The JB&A Pre-NAB event marks the first public showing of Christie’s virtual projection solution, and judging by the response, it won’t be the last. As the demand for immersive content grows, solutions like this one offer a path toward more agile, creative, and affordable production workflows.
To learn more, visit Christie Digital’s Virtual Projection microsite or simply search “Christie Virtual Projection” — you’ll see what all the buzz is about.