In a strong example of the convergence of pro AV and broadcast technologies, Brompton Technology’s Tessera SX40 processors were paired with a ROE Visual LED wall to form the image-processing backbone of a virtual production shoot for Believe Me, ITV’s four-part true-crime drama filmed largely inside a moving black cab through London at night.
The production, made by Etta Pictures for ITV Studios, used a 30m-wide by 4m-high ROE Visual BP2V2 LED wall driven by four Brompton 4K Tessera SX40 processors to recreate London streets on a controlled stage, avoiding extensive night shoots on a low-loader vehicle. Filming the scenes conventionally could have taken between three and five times longer, according to the production’s virtual production specialist, fivefold studios.
Tom Murphy, head of production at fivefold studios, said the controlled environment also protected performances from the practical pressures of night shoots on London’s streets.
He said: “Many of the key dramatic beats depended on traffic lights changing and the cab following specific routes. Being able to programme those events, trigger them on cue and repeat them accurately allowed us to remain faithful to the script in a way that would have been extremely difficult on a low-loader.”
fivefold began working on the project in early 2025, testing and validating the colour and image pipeline at its research and development hub three months ahead of the shoot. The same Brompton workflow was used during this preparation phase and on set, which the company says gave a consistent reference point for colour and image transforms once principal photography began.
Patrick Goodden, technical sales manager for the UK and Ireland at Brompton Technology, added that the project demonstrated the value of treating virtual production as a complete image pipeline rather than a screen on set. “By using the same Tessera workflow during pre-production and principal photography, fivefold studios was able to validate the pipeline in advance, maintain a dependable visual reference and give the creative team precise, repeatable control on the day,” he said.
Believe Me premiered on ITVX in May 2026 and became the platform’s most-watched drama of the month, generating 16m streams.
Read Installation’s recent feature on broadcast/AV convergence here.
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