Broadley Case Study: Elevating Holiday Spirit with The Jonas Brothers and Jimmy Fallon

This holiday season, NBC will be screening Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular featuring Meghan Trainor, Cara Delevingne, Dolly Parton, J.B. Smoove, Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, LL COOL J, The Roots, “Weird Al” Yankovic and many more.

Although the special was primarily filmed in Studio in New York, Broadley Studios were sourced by show runners to contribute a key segment to the show with a unique scene featuring the Jonas Brothers, Jimmy Fallon and LL Cool J. The production utilised the unique and advanced Virtual Production tech set up the studio had on offer.

Here’s how our technical expertise and equipment made it happen.

The shoot required three motion tracked cameras each with their own render engine.

We utilised 3 of our Sony FX9 cameras paired with Canon CN7 lenses, a Mo-Sys Star Tracker each and a render engine running Brainstorm’s Infinity sets. The Christmas scene was created in UE 5.3.

These tools allowed us to produce precise, high-quality footage that would align with the production values of NBC’s festive special that was being produced in the US.

We chose Sony FX9 cameras equipped with Canon CN7 lenses for their high-quality picture and flexibility. We also had to match images shot in the US.

The FX9 gave us the option to record internally in S-log3, but also give a Rec 709 output over SDI for the comp. Using the tracking data of each camera, InfinitySet provided us with 3 clean background renders. The cameras channels were passed through Ultimatte 12g keyers, compiled and recorded. This allowed us to composite the final pixel shots. The edit required Matte and background recordings as well as the raw green rushes in S-log.

The Mo-Sys Star Trackers ensured seamless integration between the physical and virtual environments, tracking every movement with pinpoint accuracy.

This tracking system allowed our cameras to capture dynamic shots, following the movement and energy of the Jonas Brothers without losing any visual consistency. With the Mo-Sys system, every camera move was reflected accurately in the virtual environment generated through Unreal Engine in real time.

Using Unreal Engine 5.3 in combination with Brainstorm’s InfinitySet, we were provided a custom virtual environment for the performance.

This setup allowed us to adjust backgrounds and lighting in real time, creating an interactive setting that captured the Jonas Brothers’ energy. Unreal’s advanced rendering capabilities, combined with Brainstorm’s seamless integration tools, made it possible to create a realistic, immersive scene that would match the holiday aesthetic of the show.

The Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular production team, led by Jesse Collins Entertainment, approached Broadley Studios with a vision for a holiday-themed environment that matched the Jonas Brothers’ vibrant style.

Coordinating across continents, our team worked closely with New York counterparts to ensure the footage blended seamlessly with scenes shot on location. From pre-production planning to final post-production tweaks, Broadley’s expertise in Virtual Production allowed for efficient coordination and flawless execution.

Broadley Studios has built a reputation for advanced green screen capabilities, but this project demonstrated the expanded possibilities offered by Virtual Production technology. Using VP, we can adapt virtual environments on the fly, making real-time changes that allow directors to capture the desired look and feel without relying on physical set changes. This flexibility is particularly advantageous in high-profile productions where creative demands and timelines require adaptability.

Beyond creative advantages, VP technology aligns with our commitment to sustainable production practices. By reducing the need for physical sets and minimising resource use, we’re able to deliver top-tier production quality while keeping our environmental impact low.

As Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular airs on NBC and streams on Peacock, we’re thrilled to have contributed to the show’s festive spirit with this special Christmas shoot.

Broadley Studios takes pride in bringing world-class technology to projects like this, highlighting what’s possible with the right blend of creative vision and technical innovation.

For us, it’s all about pushing the boundaries of what Virtual Production can achieve — whether it’s for music videos, broadcast specials, or unique projects like Jimmy Fallon’s holiday show.

This season’s special is a reminder of the potential VP technology holds, and we look forward to seeing where it takes us next.

For more information about our Virtual Production capabilities, and to find out how we can help you and your production, please call us on +442077255858 or email us at [email protected] today.

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