top of page

How Dreamscreen's Innovative Simulated Travel Transformed the Filming of WESTGATE

Film slate with "Westgate" text, held by a person with green nails against a blurred red and black background. Scene 813, Take 4.

Westgate is a window into the life of Director Adrian Ortega's own experiences growing up as the son of an Italian single mother in Melbourne's west, and the challenges they navigate between traditions, culture, and life in Australia.


When it came to story, Adrian and his team were able to successfully focus on performance and the safety of his cast and crew. Turning to Dreamscreen for their simulated travel sequences, there were no compromises on achieving high-quality content.

Man in cap leans into car with people inside at night, illuminated by red and yellow lights. Dark, urban setting with a focused mood.
Director, Adrian Ortega on set at Dreamscreen

"I was completely blown away by the incredible team and facilities at Dreamscreen. Having filmed driving scenes for real in the past (and having all of the difficulties that come with it), being able to film sim-travel at Dreamscreen was not only cost effective, but it gave our cast and crew a safer, more controlled space to ensure we got the exact shots and lighting we needed to achieve what we wanted.


The technology is truly mind blowing, and the whole Westgate team could not believe how realistic it looked. I am so grateful to Clay, Bridget and the whole team at Dreamscreen for making this possible for us" - Adrian Ortega, Director

Person in dark clothing operates a camera setup on a car hood, surrounded by soft purple lighting, focused and attentive.
A person in a yellow jacket sits in a dimly lit car, looking out the window with a thoughtful expression. Dark, muted colors dominate.
A woman in a car at night, lit by streetlights, gazes out the window with a contemplative expression. Dimly lit interior; red lights outside.
Person wearing headphones in a dimly lit room, watching a screen showing a blurred face. The mood is focused and contemplative.

BENEFITS OF SHOOTING SIMULATED TRAVEL AT DREAMSCREEN


SAFETY

Shooting simulated travel in a controlled studio environment eliminates the risks associated with on-location filming, especially when working on roads or highways. There’s no need to manage traffic, secure permits, or expose cast and crew to unpredictable conditions. Dreamscreen ensures a safe and secure environment where everything from lighting to camera movement can be precisely managed.


PERFORMANCE

Actors can focus fully on their performance without being distracted by the discomforts or stress of filming in a moving vehicle or busy street. The LED background provides real-time, interactive visuals that help actors stay immersed in the scene. Additionally, actors don't have to wait to drive back to their starting positions, instead we bring the content back to the start of clip.


MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Simulated travel allows filmmakers to switch between various geographic locations, from a rural highway to a bustling city street within minutes. No need for travel logistics or time lost between locations or even waiting for the sun to set. This flexibility is ideal for tight schedules and projects with multiple scene settings.


EFFICENCY
Man with headphones adjusts light on a film set. A person inside a car grips the steering wheel. Moody lighting, dark background.

LED-based virtual production dramatically reduces set-up times, resets, and transport costs. Lighting and reflections are naturally integrated into the environment, reducing post-production time. The ability to efficiently shoot leads to shorter shoot days, lower budgets, and faster turnaround times.


"Dreamscreen completely transformed the way we were able to film travel scenes. Not only are driving scenes tricky because they're so dependent on weather, but the sound is hard to capture well, and it can take forever to get the car to the right spot, not to mention the difficulty controlling camera shake.


Filming at Dreamscreen not only saved us at least a day if not more of shooting but was so much safer for our cast, and the controlled environment meant the crew could perform to an elevated level as well. The ability to seamlessly integrate dynamic, real time virtual elements into a scene with realistic and personalised background plates made the scenes much more authentic and engaging.


On top of this, the team is fantastic, everyone is so switched on kind and communicative and overall fantastic to work with. I could not recommend this to anyone more." - Danaë Grieef, Producer


Thank you to the crew on Westgate film. A special thank you to Adrain Ortega and Danaë Grieef.

For more information about the viewing of the Westgate, please head to WESTGATE FILM INSTAGRAM


To learn more about Dreamscreen's simulated travel services please email contact@dreamscreenaustralia.com or visit our SIMULATED TRAVEL webpage


bottom of page