How Cart + Horse Built 8 Cinematic Worlds in 2 Days
Detroit-based studio Cart + Horse is redefining the boundaries of independent filmmaking by swapping traditional green screens for massive LED volumes and real-time environments. Founded by Dan Maurer and Kris Bargen, the studio leverages their background in traditional 3D and video production to “fix it in pre,” refining entire environments before cameras ever roll.
When Dan and Kris set out to build eight unique virtual scenes in just two days, they knew they needed a way to move fast without sacrificing quality. The team faced an ambitious schedule with a lean crew and budget. To deliver high-end quality at that speed, they turned to the combined power of KitBash3D and Greyscalegorilla to streamline their Unreal Engine workflow.
“We use KitBash3D and Greyscalegorilla together to start off with a good backdrop, good lighting, and a lot of assets to work with. It gets us moving pretty quickly, and the quality starts high, so we can spend more time focusing on specifics, animation, and whatever else we need.” — Dan Maurer, Co-founder of Cart + Horse
Building the Foundation with KitBash3D
To meet their ambitious goals, Cart + Horse needed a way to populate vast digital worlds without the bottleneck of modeling every detail from scratch. They utilized KitBash3D’s asset library to quickly build cinematic environments from production-ready 3D models, allowing them to jump straight into world building. This level of agility was essential for a project that spanned eight different locations and time periods, ranging from spaceships and cyberpunk cities to forests and department stores.
The use of Kits like CyberPunk, Manhattan, and Outlaw allowed the team to keep pace with an intense schedule while maintaining a high-end showcase of what is possible for small studios. By having access to a library of detailed assets, they could blend live action and CG environments seamlessly without sacrificing the visual quality expected of much larger productions.
“The growing KitBash3D Library provides the building blocks to create almost any world you can imagine immediately. And combining that with the Greyscalegorilla material library and HDRIs, you can create realism in any scene.” — Kris Bargen, Co-founder of Cart + Horse
Elevating Realism with Greyscalegorilla
While KitBash3D provided the architectural structure, Greyscalegorilla provided the essential surface detail and atmospheric depth needed for a professional finish. The team integrated the Greyscalegorilla Library into Unreal Engine to elevate the production value of every scene. They also relied on HDRI Ultimate Skies for all exterior shots because they looked stunning and allowed for quick iteration during their high-pressure shoot.
The integration of these assets was a game-changer for Dan and Kris. Having a library of scan-based materials ensured that no matter the environment, whether a gritty cyberpunk street or a lush forest, the materials remained consistent and high quality across the board.
“Frankly, nothing quite matches the quality and breadth of the Greyscalegorilla Library when it comes to materials.” — Dan Maurer
The Power of Fixing it in Pre
For Cart + Horse, the real-time workflow is a collaborative philosophy that allows them to solve creative challenges before arriving on set. By building their scenes in Unreal Engine with Greyscaleogrilla and KitBash3D assets, they were able to plan every shot virtually and integrate stage references directly into the digital scene. This approach provides better creative control and a stronger foundation for collaboration, ensuring the team understands the physical limits of the studio stage early in the process.
“Unlike traditional methods where shots are captured against a green screen, and all the CG magic happens in post-production, our approach involves meticulously crafting and executing shots during pre-production, then bringing them to life in real-time on a grand LED Volume stage. It’s a massively collaborative process and ultimately allows for more control of filming environments.” — Kris Bargen
High-End Results for Smaller Studios
Virtual Production might have been made famous on blockbuster sets, but Cart + Horse proves it’s not just for massive productions anymore. Real-time tools allow teams to “fix it in pre,” building and refining entire environments before cameras ever roll. That means better creative control, faster iteration, and a stronger foundation for collaboration on set.
By embracing the KitBash3D and Greyscalegorilla libraries, Cart + Horse demonstrated how a small team can produce a high-end showcase that proves what is possible when studios embrace the right tools.
