For the past decade, Los Angeles–based Light Sail VR has been at the forefront of immersive media. Founded by director Matthew Celia and producer Robert Watts, the studio has carved out a niche as a creative and technical partner for brands and filmmakers looking to explore virtual reality and 360° storytelling. From concert films to behind-the-scenes experiences, Light Sail’s work is defined by a passion for narrative and a drive to push the boundaries of what immersive content can deliver.
“Over time, our ability to speak both technical and creative has enabled us to work with some incredibly talented folks and deliver content that pushed forward storytelling techniques in immersive,” says Celia. “We like to say we’re the glue for production companies curious about VR but unsure how to navigate the challenges.”
Bringing Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary to VR Headsets
One of Light Sail’s most high-profile projects came in 2025 when NBCU and Meta asked the studio to produce immersive versions of sketches for SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special. Capturing in Studio 8H presented unique challenges, with limited camera placement and dim lighting pushing the limits of available gear.
One camera in particular, mounted on top of a broadcast rig, recorded at a lower resolution than the team’s pipeline required. To make the footage suitable for delivery at 8K and ensure a consistent look across headsets like Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro, Light Sail turned to Topaz Video AI.
“To deliver at 8K, Topaz Video AI gave us back the resolution and detail we were going to lose, even in challenging low-light scenes. We used a combination of models, Proteus with custom settings and Rhea for its excellent denoising and sharpening.”
The immersive SNL50 experience went on to win the Emmy for Outstanding Emerging Media Program, with Topaz playing a key role in ensuring the 360° footage could match the scale of the historic broadcast.
Bringing Borderlands to Life in 360° for Lionsgate
Light Sail also leaned on Topaz Video for a behind-the-scenes project tied to Eli Roth’s Borderlands. When Roth shared a drive filled with 360° footage captured on set with an older GoPro Max, Celia saw an opportunity to create a companion feature. Working with Lionsgate, the Light Sail team shaped the material into a short narrative that matched the energy of the film.
Because the footage was shot on aging hardware during the pandemic, image quality became a concern. Once again, Topaz was the solution. “We used Topaz to upscale the footage to 8K, de-noise, and sharpen,” says Celia. “I was blown away at the results. It completely transformed what we could deliver.”
"Topaz is simply very very good for immersive and 360 workflows. We’ve tried other upscaling and enhancement tools, but they either introduce terrible artifacts (including a seam line in the back of the 360 image) or don’t do nearly as good of a job bringing back detail."
The Future of Immersive Media
Celia, an early adopter of 360/VR filmmaking, sees a bright future for VR storytelling now that the medium is finding its natural fit. “Back in 2015, everyone was throwing everything into VR, and that obviously crashed. Now we are seeing where it really shines: concert films, behind-the-scenes experiences, and projects where presence adds real value. Audiences want more immersion and deeper connection.”
He adds that immersive will not replace traditional film and television, but in specific verticals it offers something unique. “In certain spaces, it provides a sense of physical presence that delivers a truly authentic and powerful experience.”
For Light Sail VR, combining creative storytelling with innovative tools like Topaz Video AI is the formula for bringing that vision to life.
Experience the Saturday Night Live's 50th Anniversary Special like you've never seen it before!
