When lockdowns were first put in early 2020, most of us sat down on the couch, turned on our streaming services, and watched our favorite movies and TV shows. However, the pandemic-related shutdowns have made it incredibly difficult to film new content for the TV industry.

With the ever-present risk looming large over productions, three filmmakers grouped together to develop a solution. As part of the virtual CES 2021 event, the team presented the Crew in a Box virtual recording unit.

The Current State of TV Production

Before the pandemic, most TV and film production took place in physical spaces, with actors and performers all together in one place. As this became impractical due to travel restrictions and potentially harmful or dangerous, productions had to shut down or temporarily suspend operations.

As most of us spent countless hours consuming content, producers became increasingly aware that, before long, people were going to need newer TV to watch. Of all the TV genres, awards ceremonies, chat shows, and talking heads programs are the most viable to record remotely.

As you've probably noticed, many shows came to rely on Zoom recordings, video calls, and low-quality streams to get by. Although it gets the job done, it isn't ideal in the long-term and is a far cry from the quality viewers are used to.

What Is Crew in a Box?

Three filmmakers collaborated to recapture the quality of in-person recordings while still working remotely by developing the all-in-one, portable recording unit, Crew in a Box. The large package is delivered to the performer in a durable case. Instead, there is a 6K camera, expandable LED light, two teleprompters, and two professional microphones.

Once the box is opened, the on-screen performer only needs to plug it into the mains to get started. Once powered on, the box connects over the internet to a remote team of filmmakers. This virtual crew can operate and control all the various components of the Crew in a Box kit, allowing the recording to begin.

This allows the performer to focus on the task at hand rather than worrying about the video recording or any tech-related issues. To avoid security issues, the box connects via a cell network rather than a local Wi-Fi network. A director can join the conference remotely, allowing for a well-produced final product. Once the recording is complete, the Crew in a Box is collected, disinfected, and sent out on another project.

The Future of Remote Recording?

With cases still on the increase worldwide, it's looking increasingly unlikely that TV production will return to normal any time soon. Although less suited for spontaneous conversations, the Crew in a Box is an excellent alternative for television producers.

The result is a polished, high-quality recording without any of the risks associated with an in-person event. Despite being a relatively new product, Crew in a Box has already been used in productions for MTV, ABC, and ViacomCBS and Disney's anti-bullying campaign, Choose Kindness.