Bristol’s virtual production sector to challenge London’s dominance

Bristol-based virtual production studio, Distortion Studios has partnered with “creative technology programme” MyWorld to try to challenge the dominance of London’s production studios.

The partnership sees Distortion Studios providing consultancy and delivery support for the in-house virtual production studio at The Sheds, a research and development space owned by the University of Bristol.

Distortion says it brings “cutting-edge expertise and a hands-on approach” to help elevate The Sheds’ capabilities, and Bristol’s position on the global virtual production map.

Distortion Studios and MyWorld see their partnership as an opportunity to grow local talent, attract new creators and technologists, and build a supportive ecosystem that keeps the region at the forefront of media innovation. They say their ambition is to make high-end virtual production more accessible and more collaborative.

In addition to supporting The Sheds’ virtual production space, Distortion is actively working with MyWorld as part of a research and development programme exploring the use of volumetric capture in virtual production workflows. This project, conducted in partnership with CAMERA at the University of Bath, is helping shape the future of virtual production techniques in the UK and beyond.

Jonathan Brigden, managing director at Distortion Studios, said: “This partnership is such an exciting step for us — it’s about showing what can happen when two brilliant Bristol teams join forces. Bristol is a very important regional hub for the film and TV industry and we are building a centre of excellence for creative technology here in the South West. There’s so much talent, energy, and creativity right here in Bristol. It’s been a joy working with the MyWorld team already, so making it official just feels right. We’re proud to be part of something that’s helping our city shine even brighter.”

Oscar De Mello, operations director at MyWorld, adds: “We’re proud to be partnering with Distortion Studios — The in-house expertise that Distortion has created supports our vision for creativity, experimentation, and technical excellence. Together, we aim to make The Sheds not just a facility, but a hub for discovery and collaboration that draws people into the beating heart of the West of England’s creative tech scene.”