MO&MO In Camera Visual Effects Studio: Feature Film and Advertising

On the 18th of September, a Lisbon entourage visited MO&MO headquarters in Tres Cantos, Madrid. This excursion was organised by FX-Roads (Portuguese Cutting-Edges Associated Partner).

MO&MO, a virtual production services company specialised in ICVFX  based in Tres Cantos, Madrid and is led by the renowned Spanish VP Supervisor David Monguet. His combination of technical expertise, generosity, and knowledge-sharing spirit allowed the committee members from Lusófona University and FX-Roads to gain first-hand insights into ICVFX pipelines and workflows.

The visit provided an opportunity to engage directly with the technologies and practices shaping the future of cinematic production. From practical setup strategies to the artistic considerations behind immersive environments, the committee was exposed to the challenges of uniting hardware, software, and creative vision in a coherent production pipeline.

Several topics were discussed during the visit, including:

- Brain bar and LED wall: hardware/software configurations, ensuring accurate synchronization and minimal latency between control systems and display surfaces.

- 360° plates for lighting and perspective maps: strategies to use pre-captured environments for realistic base illumination without color mismatches.

- Balancing digital and physical lighting: combining image-based lighting (IBL) with practical on-set fixtures to maintain natural look and depth.

- Sync protocols: prioritizing Genlock, and PTP to ensure a stable and reliable system across all devices.

- Parallax error management: techniques to minimize perspective distortion in projections, especially when comparing curved vs. flat LED surfaces.

- Color pipeline reliability: applying standards such as REC 2020, ACES, OCIO to guarantee consistency from capture to final delivery.

Beyond the technical layer, this exchange highlighted the importance of collaboration between industry and academia. Students, researchers, and professionals must work together to advance virtual production practices, ensuring knowledge transfer and innovation. The warm welcome by the MO&MO team also underlined the role of community and human connection in shaping this rapidly evolving field.

These discussions gave the committee members a clearer sight of the complexity of ICVFX, while also nurturing new friendships among like-minded professionals. The visit marked a step forward in building stronger bridges between Portugal and Spain in the domain of creative technologies.

Participants

Lusófona University: Rodolfo Anes Silveira, João Aguiar, Ricardo Cascalheira 

FX-Roads: Leocádia Silva, Bruno Lopes

MO&MO: David Monguet, Monica Claret & extended Mo&Mo family

Article written by [Rodolfo Anes Silveira]

Rodolfo Anes Silveira is Researcher at Universidade Lusófona and Assistant Professor of Cinematography and Visual Effects at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). He holds a PhD in Media Arts and is pursuing a PhD in Web Science and Technology. His research explores virtual production, generative AI, immersive storytelling, and multisensory perception, with a focus on innovative pedagogies in media education.

- [MO&MO Film Services](https://momofilmservices.com)

- [FX-Roads](https://fx-rl.com.pt)

- [Lusófona University – Film and Media Arts](https://cinemaeartes.ulusofona.pt/pt/)