Verizon 5G brings real-time rendering to Star Wars after-party

By Fiona Leake
published

Verizon shows off the power of its 5G network in this real-time rendering use case.

(Image credit: Verizon)

Verizon, in  partnership with Walt Disney Studios’ StudioLAB, combined its next generation networking technology with innovative visual effects following the premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. 

At the afterparty in Hollywood, guests were able to interact with Sith troopers in real-time, with two actors portraying the troopers working in a remote location. This addition to the rowing list of 5G use cases in entertainment was all thanks to Verizon 5G, and the real-time rendering smarts of Disney’s visual effects studio. 

A glimpse into the future 

As guests entered the demonstration area, they were asked to approach a screen, which displayed two Sith troopers, who then began integrating them. The troopers were rendered and responded in near real-time, enabling them to comment on things such as an individual’s appearance. To achieve this, two actors were filmed live, and using motion capture and real-time rendering software were then streamed directly onto the screen. And to showcase Verizon’s 5G network, the actors were working remotely out of Playa Vista, 15 miles away from the party venue in Hollywood. 

Transformative breakthrough 

“The speed and low latency of 5G can unlock incredible creative capabilities. We want to give storytellers early access to this new technology so they can continue to bring unparalleled experiences to audiences around the world.”

Ben Havey, Disney Studios.

“Both the StudioLAB and Verizon believe 5G will fundamentally change everything about how entertainment media is created, distributed and consumed,” said Nicki Palmer, chief product development officer at Verizon. “Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network is built to support transformative breakthroughs and has the potential to remake entire industries."

Within the visual effects industry working in real-time is something of a Holy Grail, but – thanks to the way movies and TV shows are shot and edited – it also requires a high-speed, low latency network.

“The speed and low latency of 5G can unlock incredible creative capabilities,” said Ben Havey at Disney Studios StudioLAB. “We want to give storytellers early access to this new technology so they can continue to bring unparalleled experiences to audiences around the world.”



Fiona Leake
Fiona Leake

Fiona discovered her love for investing and making money from a young age. Since then this interest has grown and now she loves writing about investing and business, and follows the 5G market closely. She is also a technology enthusiast, and so they tend to be her favourite investments.