Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Getting up close and personal with a digital Liam Payne

08/04/2021

TVBEurope talks to the team at The Round, an augmented reality app which will feature an exclusive performance by Liam Payne ahead of Sundays EE British Academy Film Awards

By Jenny Priestley

Published: April 8, 2021

TVBEurope talks to the team at The Round, an augmented reality app which will feature an exclusive performance by Liam Payne ahead of Sunday's EE British Academy Film Awards

target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>

On Sunday night Liam Payne will open the British Academy Film Awards alongside his digital doppelganger.

But first, fans will be able to see Liam's avatar in a world-first real-time augmented reality mobile experience, created using EE's 5G network. Liam's performance will be recorded live and beamed to fans in the UK on their mobile phones wherever they are via AR app The Round.

Pip Brignall and Thomas Winsor, founders of The Round, developed the app as a way to enable live event producers and creatives to build and distribute their productions using augmented reality, and they describe it as a venue for live holographic performances.

Our background is in theatre, so our in' for immersive tech was very much from a theatre perspective, and we started to explore how virtual reality and augmented reality could be used to enhance that live performative storytelling format, Brignall tells TVBEurope. When we first started working on The Round it really came out of Covid shutting down all the theatres. We realised that a lot of the obstacles that we were facing could be solved by creating this one platform. We wanted to explore ways that dramatic storytelling could evolve into the audience's personal space. They're inviting the drama to them rather than going to it.

data-src=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Round-726x484.jpg alt= width=422 height=281 data-srcset=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Round-726x484.jpg 726w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Round-353x235.jpg 353w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Round-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Round-1536x1025.jpg 1536w data-sizes=(max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px />Pip Brignall (left) and Thomas Winsor (photo courtesy Anand Vara at V A Photography)The duo were taking part in Digital Catapult's 5G Accelerator Programme, experimenting on how they could utilise that technology to improve the platform and develop it further when the marketing team at EE found them. 5G is a huge part of EE's immediate and future roadmap and they always try to do a big exciting campaign around the BAFTAs and they were looking for something that would be a world first. They got in touch and asked us what would be possible, explains Brignall.

It was quite funny. They saw the video of our prototype and emailed saying they wanted to do that, and we said well that's what we're already doing', adds Winsor.

EE brought Payne on board, and the project developed from there. The AR version of the singer will be kept under wraps until 6.45pm on Sunday evening, but the app is available to download now with an AR holding animation that viewers can use to help them familiarise themselves with the process. Payne will perform exclusively for The Round at 6.45pm on Sunday before taking to the stage alongside his avatar to open the BAFTAs.

The avatar itself has already been created using photogrammetry. We captured Liam's image from every single angle you could imagine in a huge rig, and took lots of photos of his face and then we've turned that into the avatar, explains Winsor.

data-src=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/eebafta-liampaynear5g-726x484.png alt= width=407 height=271 data-srcset=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/eebafta-liampaynear5g-726x484.png 726w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/eebafta-liampaynear5g-353x235.png 353w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/eebafta-liampaynear5g-768x512.png 768w, https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/eebafta-liampaynear5g.png 1333w data-sizes=(max-width: 407px) 100vw, 407px />The images were then turned into a mesh, which was converted into an avatar and touched up in Maya. We're using really innovative facial capture technology as well so when we were doing the photogrammetry shoot we got Liam to recreate the face shapes that he makes when he's singing, says Brignall. When we were creating his avatar we had ready-made facial positions that we know are similar to what he does, so we then pre-programmed these blend shapes which were from an iPhone just strapped to his head. It tells the avatar that Liam is now doing blend shape number six and the face moves into blend shape number six. It has a series of blend shapes depending on what he's doing. That is all transmitted in real time so that once we've rigged the avatar it moves and behaves in the ways that Liam himself does, his digital face is programmed to make the same facial positions. When it's in real time that information makes the avatar come to life.

A slightly enhanced version of the avatar is being used in the TV performance. There are some limitations at this point as to what level of fidelity you can put an AR avatar into a mobile phone because they have a hard ceiling on what they can process. So we've created an improved' version of the avatar that people will see on the TV broadcast, says Winsor.

Part of the process has also involved Payne pulling on the dreaded mo-cap suit. But Winsor and Brignall say he's been up for anything. We had a very early session with him when we went to our motion capture studio and we got him in a mo-cap suit, and had a play and started loosely blocking i
LINK: https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/getting-up-close-and-persona...
See more stories from tvb

Most recent headlines

06/10/2025

France Tlvisions Wins Prestigious 2025 EBU Technology & Innovation Award in Groundbreaking Collaboration with Dalet

France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...

04/09/2025

Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Dalet Win Prestigious 2025 NAB Show Project of the Year Award

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...

07/08/2025

Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, Redefining In-Car Entertainment Experience

July 8 2025, 22:30 (PDT) Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, R...

11/07/2025

2025 Sundance Institute Producers Lab Fellows Announced

PARK CITY, UTAH, July 11, 2025 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the 11 producers chosen for its annual Producers Labs, returning to Ucross Fou...

11/07/2025

Superman' Filmmaker James Gunn Reveals the Playlists Inspired by Your Favorite Characters

If you've ever wondered what might be playing in Clark Kent's headphones...

11/07/2025

L3Harris Delivers First P-8A Poseidon Aircraft to US Navy

L3Harris Technologies President of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Jason Lambert and General Manager of L3Harris Waco facility Sean Ling held a ce...

11/07/2025

WETA Launches WETA+ Free Streaming Service

ARLINGTON, Va. WETA, the flagship public media station in the national capital area, has launched WETA+, a new streaming service tailored for the local Washingt...

11/07/2025

TV Tech's Top Regulatory Stories of 2025

The Federal Communications Commission has emerged as one of the central players in the broadcast TV landscape in 2025, with its deregulatory policies sparking h...

11/07/2025

Calrec to Feature Suite of Interconnected Audio Solutions at IBC2025

Calrec will introduce usability, customization and system enhancements across its entire range of Argo consoles during IBC2025, Sept. 12-15, at the RAI Amsterda...

11/07/2025

Encompass Supports DAZN's Coverage of 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

LONDON Encompass Digital Media said it will support live and on-demand viewing of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup across multiple global regions for sports enterta...

11/07/2025

SBE Survey: Certified Broadcast Engineers Earn More

Two-thirds of broadcast engineers reaped the benefits of a pay raise within the last year....

11/07/2025

SmallHD Unveils Quantum 27 OLED Monitor

CARY, N.C. SmallHD has launched the Quantum 27, a new 26.5-inch Quantum-Dot OLED monitor designed to deliver postproduction image quality in a compact, set-frie...

11/07/2025

Tegna Will Pay $225K to Settle FCC Investigation

The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau and Tegna have entered into a consent decree that will settle an investigation into the accidenta...

11/07/2025

Sens. Markey, Lujn Again Call for FCC Vote on Paramount-Skydance Merger

WASHINGTON Following news in early July that Paramount had settled President Donald Trump's lawsuit, Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ben Ray Luj n (D-N...

11/07/2025

Model/Actriz Performs Lead Single Cinderella on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Model/Actriz Performs Lead Single Cinderella on The Late Show with Stephen Colbe...

11/07/2025

Behind the Mic: Amazon Prime Preps for First Season of NBA Action; MSG Networks Adjusts Broadcast Booths for Rangers, Devils

Behind the Mic: Amazon Prime Preps for First Season of NBA Action; MSG Networks ...

11/07/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Suite Studios' Craig Hering on Adapting to Clients' Needs With Scalable Cloud-Based Storage

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Suite Studios' Craig Hering on Adapting to Client...

11/07/2025

2025 SVG Content Management Forum Breaks Down AI's Impact, Continued Transition to the Cloud

2025 SVG Content Management Forum Breaks Down AI's Impact, Continued Transit...

11/07/2025

A Journey HOME: University of Nebraska's HuskerVision Goes IP

A Journey HOME: University of Nebraska's HuskerVision Goes IP Leaders from the HuskerVision and Lawo share their IP learnings By SVG Staff Friday, July 1...

11/07/2025

CMSI, Remote Picture Labs, Ace ESPN's Cloud-Based Editing Efforts for Wimbledon

CMSI, Remote Picture Labs, Ace ESPN's Cloud-Based Editing Efforts for Wimble...

11/07/2025

Netflix Enters the Live-Boxing-Production Ring for Round 2 With Historic Taylor-Serrano 3 Card at MSG

Netflix Enters the Live-Boxing-Production Ring for Round 2 With Historic Taylor-...

11/07/2025

'Too Hot to Handle: Italy' Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix

Back to All News Too Hot to Handle: Italy Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix Entertainment 11 July 2025 GlobalItaly Link copied to clipboard July 11, 20...

11/07/2025

Netflix Will Release 'Death Inc.' Seasons 1, 2 and 3

Back to All News Netflix Will Release Death Inc. Seasons 1, 2 and 3 Entertainment 11 July 2025 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard Season 1 Season 2 Se...

11/07/2025

AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration

AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration launches two papers to guide the future of AI integration, today at the AI for Good Global Summit The...

11/07/2025

A Gaming GPU Helps Crack the Code on a Thousand-Year Cultural Conversation

Ceramics - the humble mix of earth, fire and artistry - have been part of a global conversation for millennia. From Tang Dynasty trade routes to Renaissance pa...

10/07/2025

Taliban repression silences award-winning Afghan woman journalist

The current holder of the prestigious Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award has been forced to stop reporting over fears for her safety in Afgha...

10/07/2025

A New Report Puts Aussie Artists in the Spotlight

Spotify is turning up the volume on Australian music with a multipronged initiative designed to highlight the dominance of Australian artists on the global stag...

10/07/2025

Spotify Toasts Oasis's Return With Exclusive Ways for Fans to Get Closer to the Music That Defined a Generation

This is not a drill: Oasis is back on the road-marking its first live performanc...

10/07/2025

Spotify and Youth Music Open Doors for Future Artists

The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft...

10/07/2025

Nielsen Appoints Richard Pacheco as Head of Global Partnerships

NEW YORK - July 10, 2025 - Nielsen, the global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, today announced that it appointed Richard Pacheco as head of ...

10/07/2025

Sponsored: Robotic Deployments Are Transforming Local News

Local newscasts don't exist in a vacuum. News directors and station management constantly evaluate what's working, what isn't and perhaps most impor...

10/07/2025

Stuttgart Media University Upgrades Studio with Lawo mc56

Lawo has announced that Stuttgart Media University (Hochschule der Medien, HdM) has comprehensively modernized its central recording studio after selecting an I...

10/07/2025

SMPTE Opens Early Bird Registration for Media Technology Summit

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) has opened early-bird registration for the Media Technology Summit, which will take place in a ne...

10/07/2025

TNDV Television Launches Aspiration 35 to Support Cinematic Workflows

NASHVILLE, Tenn. TNDV Television has launched Aspiration 35, a new version of its 40-foot Aspiration truck reimagined for cinematic multicamera productions....

10/07/2025

Key Code Education Launches Beginner, Intermediate Training Courses

BURBANK, Calif. Key Code Education, a provider of instructor-led postproduction training, is growing its curriculum with new programs for beginner and intermedi...

10/07/2025

Actus Digital to Show Actus X Intelligent Monitoring With AI at IBC2025

HACKENSACK, N.J. Actus Digital will demonstrate how broadcasters can transform compliance monitoring from a necessary expense into a strategic revenue driver at...

10/07/2025

Comments on FCC Ownership Rules Due in August

The Federal Register has published a summary of the Federal Communications Commission's Public Notice seeking comments on its ownership rules that lists a d...

10/07/2025

Netflix Presents the Official Trailer for 'Superestar'

Back to All News Netflix Presents the Official Trailer for SuperestarPlay Video Play Video Entertainment 10 July 2025 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard...

10/07/2025

From Terabytes to Turnkey: AI-Powered Climate Models Go Mainstream

In the race to understand our planet's changing climate, speed and accuracy are everything. But today's most widely used climate simulators often strugg...

10/07/2025

Indonesia on Track to Achieve Sovereign AI Goals With NVIDIA, Cisco and IOH

As one of the world's largest emerging markets, Indonesia is making strides toward its Golden 2045 Vision - an initiative tapping digital technologies and...

10/07/2025

VEON and Cohen Circle Secure Investor Commitments for Kyivstar Listing

10 Jul 2025 VEON and Cohen Circle Secure Investor Commitments for Kyivstar Listing Kyiv, New York, Dubai, and Philadelphia - July 10, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq:...

10/07/2025

5G for All? What the DFL's Use of Easy5G, RefCam Could Mean for Events in the Future

5G for all? What the DFL's use of Easy5G and RefCam could mean for events in...

10/07/2025

Save the Date: PGA TOUR Studios Welcomes SVG Remote Production Summit on Oct 14-15

Save the Date: PGA TOUR Studios Welcomes SVG Remote Production Summit on Oct 14-...

10/07/2025

Cloud on the Road: How Remote-Production-Service Providers Are Adapting to a New Era

Cloud on the Road: How Remote-Production-Service Providers Are Adapting to a New...

10/07/2025

Seattle Kraken's Ryan Schaber on the NHL Team Taking Live Game Productions In-House

Seattle Kraken's Ryan Schaber on the NHL Team Taking Live Game Productions I...

10/07/2025

FOX Sports Reboots Small Control Room in Los Angeles as Hub for Vertical-First Production

FOX Sports Reboots Small Control Room in Los Angeles as Hub for Vertical-First P...

10/07/2025

SVG Sit-Down: MSE's Zach Leonsis, ViewLift's Rick Allen Go Deep on Joint Venture Targeting Local-Sports-Media Market

SVG Sit-Down: MSE's Zach Leonsis, ViewLift's Rick Allen Go Deep on Joint...

10/07/2025

From Treehouses to the Deep Sea: A First Look at Sky Kids New Adventures

Thursday 10 July 2025 The Very Small Creatures Jaime's Treetop Tales Emerald BooSnoo! Christmas Mashup Pip & Posy's Spooktacular Party The Very Sm...

10/07/2025

Millions of Sky customers set to enjoy even bigger rewards as Sky VIP loyalty programme gets a major upgrade

Thursday 10 July 2025 Brand new rewards are coming to Sky customers, with free ...