Behind every great studio is a visionary who dared to build something new. Peishan Yu (余佩珊) is the director, producer, and founder of Upperland Studio, a state-of-the-art virtual production facility located at 238-13880 Wireless Way, Richmond BC. With a career spanning film directing, commercial production, and cutting-edge LED wall technology, Peishan has created a space where independent filmmakers, brands, and content creators can access Hollywood-caliber tools at an accessible price point — starting at just $99 per hour.
From Film Sets to Virtual Production Pioneer
Peishan’s journey into filmmaking began long before virtual production existed as a mainstream concept. Trained as a director and producer with deep roots in narrative storytelling, she spent years working across diverse productions — from indie films and documentaries to branded content and music videos. Her experience on traditional film sets gave her an intimate understanding of both the creative possibilities and the practical limitations that filmmakers face every day.
It was this dual perspective — creative ambition paired with production realism — that eventually led Peishan to virtual production. She recognized that LED wall technology could fundamentally change who gets to tell stories on screen. Instead of requiring massive budgets for location shoots, weather-dependent scheduling, and expensive post-production compositing, a well-designed LED volume could deliver photorealistic environments in real time, on set, at a fraction of the traditional cost.
Building Upperland Studio: A Vision for Accessible Production
Upperland Studio was born from a simple but powerful idea: world-class production tools should not be reserved exclusively for studios with seven-figure budgets. When Peishan designed the facility, every decision was guided by this philosophy. The result is a versatile production space anchored by a 7-metre by 4-metre curved LED wall with a 180-degree wrap, powered by Unreal Engine and equipped with real-time camera tracking.
But Peishan understood that a great LED wall alone does not make a great studio. She built Upperland as a comprehensive production hub that also includes a professional green screen area, a dedicated 3-camera podcast setup, an event space capable of hosting 50 to 80 guests, and professional stage lighting designed for film, photography, and live events. AI-driven pre-visualization tools round out the technology stack, allowing productions to plan complex shots before a single frame is captured.
A Director’s Approach to Studio Design
What sets Upperland apart from other rental facilities is that it was designed by someone who has actually directed productions. Peishan’s background means the studio layout, equipment selection, and workflow systems were all built from the perspective of a working filmmaker — not just an equipment vendor. The lighting grid, camera positions, and LED wall curvature were all optimized for the types of shots that directors actually need, from intimate close-ups with soft bokeh backgrounds to wide establishing shots with parallax-correct environments.
This director-first philosophy extends to client service as well. Peishan and her team offer hands-on creative consultation, helping productions maximize the capabilities of the LED wall studio rather than simply handing over the keys and stepping away. Whether a client is shooting their first virtual production or their fiftieth, the Upperland team provides the technical guidance needed to get cinematic results.
Philosophy: Democratizing Cinematic Storytelling
At the core of everything Peishan does is a belief that great stories deserve great production values, regardless of budget size. She has spoken publicly about the inequities in the film industry, where access to locations, visual effects, and professional environments is often gated by financial resources rather than creative talent. Virtual production, in her view, is the great equalizer.
“A filmmaker with a strong vision and a modest budget can now create imagery that would have been impossible without millions of dollars just five years ago,” Peishan explains. “That is not just a technology upgrade — it is a fundamental shift in who gets to participate in professional content creation.”
This commitment to accessibility is reflected in Upperland’s pricing structure. At $99 per hour, the studio is positioned to serve not just established production companies but also independent creators, small businesses, and emerging artists who need professional results without professional-tier budgets. Peishan sees every booking as an opportunity to prove that affordable virtual production and high quality are not mutually exclusive.
Notable Projects and Industry Impact
Under Peishan’s direction, Upperland Studio has hosted an impressive range of productions. Fashion editorials — including the acclaimed Xiangyan Couture New Chinese fashion shoot — have leveraged the LED wall to create stunning backdrops that would typically require international travel. Music videos have used the volume to transport artists into fantastical environments in a single afternoon. Corporate clients have produced brand content and product launches that rival the production value of national campaigns.
Peishan has also been active in the broader Vancouver production community, sharing knowledge about virtual production workflows and advocating for wider adoption of LED wall technology among independent creators. Her work has helped position Richmond, BC, as an emerging hub for innovative production alongside Vancouver’s established film industry infrastructure.
Q&A with Peishan Yu
Q: What inspired you to open a virtual production studio in Richmond, BC?
A: I saw a gap between what creators wanted to achieve and what they could actually afford. Vancouver has incredible talent, but access to advanced production tools was limited to big-budget shoots. I wanted to change that by building a facility where anyone with a creative vision could walk in and produce work that looks like it cost ten times what they actually spent.
Q: How do you see AI changing virtual production in the next few years?
A: AI is already transforming pre-visualization and environment generation. At Upperland, we use AI-driven tools to help clients plan their shoots more efficiently. In the near future, I expect AI will make it even easier to create custom LED wall environments on the fly, which will further lower the barrier to entry for smaller productions.
Q: What advice would you give to filmmakers who have never worked with an LED wall before?
A: Start with a clear creative brief and reference images. The LED wall can do extraordinary things, but having a clear vision of what you want will help our team dial in the environment, lighting, and camera settings quickly. Also, do not be afraid to experiment — some of the most stunning results I have seen came from happy accidents during a shoot.
Q: What types of productions benefit most from Upperland Studio?
A: Honestly, almost any visual content benefits from our setup. But the biggest impact I see is with productions that would otherwise need expensive location travel, complex VFX compositing, or controlled-environment photography. Fashion, music videos, product launches, and corporate content all see enormous ROI from virtual production.
Working with Peishan and the Upperland Team
Peishan remains actively involved in studio operations and creative consultation. Clients who book Upperland gain access not just to equipment, but to a team led by a working director who understands the nuances of visual storytelling. From pre-production planning through the final shot of the day, Peishan’s hands-on approach ensures that every production maximizes its time and budget.
For creators looking to push the boundaries of what is possible in their work, Upperland Studio — and Peishan Yu’s vision behind it — represents a genuine opportunity to elevate their craft. Learn more about the studio’s capabilities in our LED wall vs. traditional film set comparison guide.
Book a Consultation
Ready to bring your creative vision to life? Contact Upperland Studio to discuss your project with Peishan and the team. Whether you are planning a short film, a brand campaign, or a podcast series, we will help you find the right setup — and the right budget — to make it happen. Studio tours are available by appointment at our Richmond, BC, facility.