UNIT Studios Launches Virtual Production Department in Partnership with Nick Jones and Phil Tidy

UNIT, London’s independently-owned boutique creative house, launches a new Virtual Production department (VP) in partnership with leading VP director Nick Jones and VP producer Phil Tidy, who are on a mission to produce the very best work in Virtual Production.

Based in the heart of Fitzrovia, UNIT, a full-service, end-to-end creative production house has garnered a multitude of awards across Commercials, Film and TV for their VFX, Design, Colour, Sound, and Editing work on some of the best-loved work on our screens.

Recognising that Virtual Production is transforming the Advertising, Film and TV industry, UNIT’s newly launched VP department will significantly expand its current offering and provide clients with an exciting new production option that also contributes to a more sustainable future.

Virtual Production combines live-action filming, traditional art department sets, and real-time 3D computer-generated imagery (CGI) displayed on large-scale LED screens, creating immersive environments that are captured live ‘in-camera,’ significantly reducing costs, expediting production and improving communication efficiency.

Virtual Production also offers total control over the weather, time of day and lighting conditions allowing for adjustments in real time. This enables creators to see the full filming environment in-camera, allowing cast members to directly feel the changes in the set and lighting, further enhancing performances compared with shooting on a green screen and combined, gives clients and creators total control over all aspects of content creation. 

UNIT Virtual Production enables creators to shoot difficult or unattainable real-world filming environments in a studio and saves time and energy on set transitions and location moves. This allows for shooting multiple locations in a single day or enabling hard-to-shoot locations without complex logistics or huge budgets. UNIT’s Virtual Production Department also offers solutions to these barriers that are cost-effective and production-friendly, whilst conserving valuable environmental resources when compared with location shooting.

UNIT executive producer Phil McCluney explained, “One of the key selling points for clients of Virtual Production is the environmental factor. ”Drawing upon the resources of organisations such as Green The Bid and AdGreen, UNIT’ can measure and collate data that will give clients important information on the amount of carbon emissions their project produces. McCluney continues, “We are committed to being leaders in this area by making our productions as low carbon as possible and promoting environmentally conscious filmmaking practices.”

Composed of a team of Virtual Production experts and studio partners, UNIT’s Virtual Production team is being led by VP director Nick Jones and VP producer Phil Tidy. Recognized as the first in the UK to shoot VP, Nick Jones has been shooting VP since 2020 and is also one of the most experienced VP directors currently in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, having shot over 57 days of VP on various stages.

Earlier this year, Nick Jones wrapped a 21-day VP shoot for Qiddiya, a planned entertainment and tourism megaproject in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He just wrapped a Jo Malone television commercial and social media campaign in VP and is currently working on a COP16 film in VP for the United Nations. Saving the planet one shoot at a time!

UNIT VP producer Phil Tidy has created TV programming, commercials, music videos and more with the largest production companies in London for world-known brands and bands from Adidas to Oasis, Range Rover to Kylie, Hermes to Coldplay, in between producing Cannes Lions winning campaigns and short films. He has recently been working with the most current technologies in Virtual/XR Production and is always trying to find ways to utilise new technologies and formats to make awe-inspiring creative work. UNIT virtual production producer Phil Tidy, said, “Both Nick and myself are super excited and jumped at the chance to work with Adam, Amanda and team UNIT, on a mission to bring quality VP to their roster of brilliant clients. Huzzah!”

UNIT co-founder and owner Adam Luckwell said, “UNIT is thrilled to have VP director Nick Jones and VP producer Phil Tidy leading our new Virtual Production department. They are super creatives dedicated to their craft and committed to utilising the unlimited creative potential that VP can bring to our client projects."

UNIT virtual production director Nick Jones, said, “I’m thrilled and honoured to be part of the team, bringing my VP experience to launch UNIT’s VP Dept. With UNIT’s extensive and award-winning VFX and post work, their attention to craft and detail, they’re the perfect home for fantastic work in VP.”