Prelight Strategy in the Age of VP & Real-time Rendering?

Hey everyone,

I'm Derek, a 1st AC, and I've been wrestling with a question recently. With all the advancements in virtual production, real-time rendering, and even advanced pre-visualization software, how has 'new technology' impacted your approach to 'lighting prelight strategy'?

On my last commercial, we were using a lot of LED volumes with an ALEXA Mini and a mix of SkyPanel S60-Cs and PavoTube II 30Xs for fills. The previs was incredibly detailed, almost to the point where I felt like the traditional 'prelight' as I know it was... different. Less about finding the look, more about confirming the tech.

Are these tools making pre-lights more efficient, less necessary, or fundamentally changing what we even consider a 'prelight' to be? I'm genuinely curious about everyone's experiences.