Deutsche Bahn – Virtual Production
Virtual highlight show for Deutsche Bahn at the Urban Studio
For Deutsche Bahn AG, Jakobs Medien produced a virtual highlight show on behalf of the agency Fischer Appelt. The recording took place on 11 December 2023 at Jakobs Medien’s Urban Studio.
Scope of Services
The production comprised a live-on-tape recording using virtual studio technology. The show was realised in the Urban Studio using greenscreen technology and virtual backgrounds, followed by post-production editing.
Technical Setup
The Urban Studio was configured as a fully equipped virtual production studio, including professional lighting, camera technology, and live directing. The virtual production enabled the integration of digital sets and graphic elements in real time.
The Project in Context
Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway company, wanted to produce an internal highlight show that would celebrate the year’s achievements and set the tone for the year ahead. Rather than a conventional stage event, the company and their agency Fischer Appelt opted for a virtual production approach — using digital environments to create a visually dynamic show that would stand out from typical corporate video content. Jakobs Medien’s Urban Studio, equipped for greenscreen and real-time rendering workflows, was the ideal venue.
Bringing Virtual Sets to Life
The production used real-time compositing to place presenters and guests within digitally designed environments that changed throughout the show. This approach allowed for creative flexibility that would have been impossible — or prohibitively expensive — with physical set construction. Scene transitions, branded graphics, and atmospheric backdrops were all rendered and integrated live during the recording, giving the show a polished, television-like quality. Our team managed every aspect of the technical execution, from camera tracking and lighting calibration to live directing and real-time quality control.
Why It Worked
The finished highlight show gave Deutsche Bahn a piece of internal content that employees actually wanted to watch. The virtual production format made it visually engaging, while the live-on-tape recording approach preserved the energy and spontaneity of a live event. The project demonstrated how virtual production technology can elevate corporate communications beyond the standard talking-head format, creating content that informs and entertains in equal measure.
