Blocking & Pre-Viz on LED Stages - A Gaffer's Perspective Shift?

Hey everyone,

Jason here, I've been gaffing for a good while now, and I'm really trying to get my head around how much virtual production and real-time LED stages have reshaped our craft, specifically around blocking and pre-visualization. A decade ago, it was all about detailed floorplans, light plots, and maybe some basic 3D renders. Now, with an ALEXA 35 looking at a massive LED volume, it feels like a whole new beast.

I'm on a project right now where we're using a large LED wall for exteriors, and the ability to instantly change environments is incredible, but it's also making me rethink how we block actors and set decisions. We're using M18s and some Titan Tubes to blend with the virtual lighting, but the traditional 'mark it, light it, shoot it' sequence feels less linear. How are you all adapting your pre-viz workflows? Are you spending more time in previs with the art department and director before even hitting the stage? Are you finding new methodologies for 'lighting' scenes that are largely pre-rendered? Any insights or experiences would be massively helpful.