The Women Shaping the Future of Virtual Production: Alisa Chieves
Synapse is an end-to-end virtual production partner offering VP content creation, facility development, education, consulting, and stage rentals. Based in LA, and founded by five of the sharpest minds in the film industry, the studio has a wealth of talent behind the doors of its expansive studio space.
Shining a light on the people behind the screens and responsible for the running of the studio, meet Alisa Chieves, head of production at Synapse…
Alisa joined Synapse after 15 years at Paramount Global (previously Viacom). There, she launched its digital content division, Viacom Digital studios, and ran a full service bicoastal in-house production company, servicing 11 brands all the way from creative development to post production and delivery. She comes from a varied background of formats – from scripted to reality, live broadcast and more – complementing the diverse range of content coming into Synapse, which spans commercials, music videos, tv shows, films, live broadcasts, immersive experiences and esports events.
As head of production, Alisa is the first point of contact for partnership on all virtual production projects. Embedded into the creative team on a shoot, she aids in content evolution, from environment creation with the virtual art department all the way through to execution on the stage. Recent projects include the MTV Video Music Award winning for Eminiem ‘Houdini’, and an upcoming star-studded spot for a major US brand.
Alisa comments, "From the moment I first stepped into a virtual production studio, I knew this was something I had to be involved in - it wasn’t just the new technologies, but the mindset and fresh workflows that came with them that really hooked me. Seeing the creative juices flowing when filmmakers are in that kind of dynamic environment was invigorating, and it pushed me to dive in headfirst. What makes Synapse stand out is its relentless pursuit of innovation and the deep experience of its team. The filmmakers and technologists at Synapse use the studio as a sandbox, drawing on decades of experience to test, refine, and even invent the latest tools and techniques to make every project as efficient and creatively powerful as possible. It's truly a stimulating environment to be a part of."
Justin Diener, CEO at Synapse Virtual Production, adds, “We are incredibly excited to have Alisa Chieves as our head of production. Alisa’s extensive experience, including pioneering work at Paramount Global, and her unwavering commitment to excellence makes her the ideal leader to advance our vision at Synapse. Her deep understanding of various content formats - from scripted series to live broadcasts - is invaluable as we continue to expand our offerings and push the envelope in delivering high-quality experiences and unparalleled value to our clients.”
