EFD Studios reaffirms its commitment to large-scale productions through its expertise and cutting-edge technology. In the dramatic series Every Minute Counts (Aka “Cada minuto cuenta), produced by Amazon Studios and Traziende Films, the technical team and know-how of EFD Studios were fundamental in bringing to the screen a gripping story of survival and tension, delivered with impactful realism.
Directed by Jorge Michel Grau, the series stars a remarkable cast, including Osvaldo Benavides (La Suerte de Loli, Monarca, Lo que la vida me robó), Maya Zapata (Horario Estelar, At Midnight, El Secreto de Selena), Jesús Zavala (Club de Cuervos, Búnker, Dime cuando tú), and Antonio de la Vega (Club de Cuervos, ¿Quién mató a Sara?, Un extraño enemigo). With cinematography by Santiago Sánchez, AMC (Somos lo que hay, La gran seducción), the 10-episode series transports viewers to the days following Mexico City’s devastating 1985 earthquake, portraying the lives of those who fought to survive and protect their loved ones.
State-of-the-Art Technology for Unparalleled Realism
The production of Every Minute Counts combined real locations with Mexico City’s Churubusco studio facilities, featuring a wide array of high-quality equipment provided by EFD Studios. From grip equipment like the Fisher 11 dolly to an advanced lighting setup featuring industry-leading HMI units, including ARRI Max 18K, M40, and M90, as well as SkyPanel (S60, S120, S360), Aputure (60X, 600C, and MCs), Asteras (Titan and Helios), Litegear (LiteTile 8), and Kino Flo. This selection ensured that each shot captured the intensity and visual realism demanded by the series, particularly in its most dramatic scenes.
EFD Studios had the chance to speak with director Jorge Michel Grau, who shared how lighting was crucial in conveying a claustrophobic atmosphere: “To give a sense of entrapment, we decided that each space would have its own type of lighting…during the earthquake scenes, we moved not only the objects but also the shadows. We moved lights that cast shadows on walls or characters, which allows light to function as a narrative tool. It wasn’t just about illuminating what’s in front of the camera; it was about making the audience feel what’s in front of the camera.”
Large-Scale Virtual Production: A Milestone for Latin America
Every Minute Counts is a milestone for Latin American production, marking the region’s first large-scale virtual production. This ability to manipulate environments in real-time granted creators unique creative flexibility, allowing for more authentic scenes that made the storytelling immersive and genuine.
Grau elaborates on this innovation: “The context helps embrace your characters. With green screen, the cinematographer lacks full reference and usually resorts to medium shots. In contrast, virtual production is like shooting on location, giving us a lot of control over backgrounds, and the cinematographer can frame, balance, and compose a shot that enhances the actor, the story, and especially the character’s emotional moment.”
EFD Studios and the Future of Virtual Sets
The use of virtual sets in productions like Every Minute Counts represents a significant shift in the film industry, where studios increasingly explore this technology to overcome the physical limitations of traditional sets.
EFD Studios, committed to advancing this technology, plans to open Europe’s largest virtual production studio space in Spain. With state-of-the-art LED screens and advanced rendering and lighting control technology, filmmakers will be able to create diverse, real-time environments that maximize realism and creative control.
Virtual production is emerging as a solution that promotes safer, more sustainable, and more efficient filming, expanding narrative and aesthetic possibilities for the audiovisual industry.
Every Minute Counts premieres on Prime Video on November 8.
Teaser | Amazon Prime:
