Throughout every period, there are individuals who not only adapt to the new age but also drive this change. Innovation is not only technological but also visionary, bold, and capable of envisioning something new where other people can only see restrictions. To Ernst Heusser, his way to Virtual Production Executive Producer and project head at Pixelmotion AG was not a straight line. Having been born in Zurich and growing up partly in South Africa, Ernst had studied Politics and International Relations at the university. This world was as distant as the cameras, sets, and digital storytelling. Yet fate had other plans.
A Story That Started Behind the Lens
His journey began in Cape Town, where he stumbled into photography and filmmaking by chance. Within months, Ernst realised that knowledge gained through doing was the truest teacher. “The 1,000 hours rule is real,” he recalls. “Dedication transforms you into a master of your craft.” That devotion quickly paid off; his creative eye and narrative instincts carried him through the ranks at Bigsky Productions. By 2014, his work had won first prize at the Bokeh Mercedes-Benz Fashion Film Festival, an achievement that gave him the confidence to leap into the creative industries fully.
What followed was a decade of shaping stories, fashion films, lifestyle documentaries, live sports broadcasts, and corporate productions for global clients. Each chapter added another layer of skill: the adrenaline of live directing, the discipline of corporate communication, the nuance of interviewing, and the artistry of visual storytelling.
From Sports Streams to Virtual Dreams
One of Ernst’s early career pivots showcased his entrepreneurial edge. While filming sports on weekends, he joined a small team of eight who founded School Sports Live, a startup that became South Africa’s largest network for streaming school sports. After five years of relentless work, the company attracted the attention of the continent’s biggest satellite provider, which converted it into SuperSport Schools, a platform now serving more than a million subscribers.
“I still miss the rush of the live show,” Ernst admits, recalling the joy of directing live broadcasts. But those years gave me technical stability and sharpened my ability to tell stories under pressure.
That restless hunger for growth eventually brought him back to Europe. A stint in the UK at Synima, a global creative agency, exposed him to high-level projects with heavyweights like JP Morgan, Siemens, and HP. Yet when Ernst returned to Zurich on holiday, he realized what he had been missing: home. Switzerland offered more than just quality of life; it was a landscape of opportunity waiting for the right pioneers.
The Birth of a Vision in Zurich
That opportunity emerged at Pixelmotion AG, a Swiss company launching into the bold new frontier of Virtual Production (VP). Together with technology partner Avivox GmbH, Ernst and his colleagues set out to build Zurich’s first full-time VP studio, an ambitious plan to bring Hollywood-grade innovation to Switzerland’s creative industries.
He felt like he was coming full circle, believing that he had finally built a studio from scratch, designed by a filmmaker for filmmakers.
Today, Pixelmotion stands at the forefront of Swiss virtual production. The team uses Unreal Engine to project immersive, photorealistic backgrounds on LED walls and floors, enabling filmmakers to capture dynamic, believable scenes without ever leaving Zurich. Summer in winter? A CEO delivering a keynote atop the Alps? A brand video in a futuristic city? Pixelmotion makes the impossible look effortless.
Their unique setup even allows set extension, the magic of combining physical stage and digital worlds so seamlessly that the camera sees infinite horizons. It is a technical feat that transforms limited studio space into limitless creative landscapes.
The Thrill of Innovation
For Ernst, the excitement lies in pushing boundaries, and that virtual production feels like standing at the edge of the filmmaking frontier. He believes that technology is still unwinding every day, and we get to mold it into something useful for advertisers, storytellers, and corporations alike.
The Zurich studio caters to an exceptional range of content, from commercials, podcasts, and product launches to cinematic shoots and interactive explainers. What unites them all is the ability to deliver speed, flexibility, and creative freedom.
What once required costly international travel or long post-production processes can now be achieved instantly. He believes that instead of fixing things in post, we get it right on the spot. Change the time of day, shift the weather, or swap the setting, it’s all immediate. This efficiency is as valuable to CEOs as it is to creative directors: less cost, less carbon footprint, and more magic captured live.
Leading with Trust and Respect
Innovation, however, is not just about technology. It’s about people. Ernst believes that leadership in creative industries means facilitating an environment where ideas can breathe.
He explains that his team is small, and each member brings specific skills, which makes trust and respect essential. His leadership style mixes calm authority with collective openness, honed through 20 years of directing shoots where every department has a voice.
He draws inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of listening first, believing that true leadership doesn’t require being loud. By respecting others and validating their perspectives, he provides the space to grow. Whilst being strong and assertive when decisions need to be made and deadlines reached.
Staying Ahead in a Fast-Moving World
In an industry where new tools emerge almost weekly, Ernst and his team keep learning constantly. From WhatsApp groups of Swiss VP professionals to global Discord channels and YouTube tutorials, he adopts informal networks as valuable think tanks.
But Ernst is equally intense about formal collaboration. At Pixelmotion, he has forged ties with Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), bringing fresh graduates directly into the studio pipeline. He explains that giving emerging talent their first break allows them to bring fresh energy and ideas to the team.
This cycle of learning and teaching keeps the studio elegant. Ernst cautions against assuming you already know it best, noting that somewhere, someone has likely solved the problem you are facing, and the key is simply to ask.
Facing Challenges with Resilience
No pioneering journey is without hurdles. Virtual production comes with two main challenges: cost and awareness. Clients often struggle to understand why so much pre-production is required. Ernst likens VP to theatre; most of the magic happens before the curtain rises.
He notes that, unlike green screen, where adjustments can be made later, virtual production bakes the environment directly into the footage. While this is powerful, it also demands thorough planning, and educating clients about this process has been an important part of the journey.
On top of that, he believes that the rapid pace of technological upgrades can feel relentless. Choosing the right equipment that balances future-proofing with practicality is an art form in itself.
Yet Ernst sees even greater potential in these obstacles. Pixelmotion is actively driving sustainable filmmaking in Switzerland by partnering with initiatives like Aktion Grüner Film. Virtual production naturally reduces travel, transport, and on-location emissions, making it a tool not just for creativity but for environmental responsibility.
Milestones That Matter
Looking back, Ernst is proud of many achievements, but a few stand out. Winning the Bokeh Mercedes-Benz Fashion Film Award gave him the confidence to take risks. Building SuperSport Schools taught him the power of teamwork and scaling ideas. And today, spearheading Zurich’s first VP volume feels like the culmination of two decades of learning, experimenting, and daring to dream.
He conveys that building a studio the way it should be, crafted by someone who has experienced every part of the process, has been deeply fulfilling.
The Qualities of a Visionary Leader
For Ernst, modern leadership boils down to decisiveness and respect. He stresses that good decisions are not unilateral; they are built through cooperation, though someone must ultimately take responsibility. His directorial background, where balancing creative visions, budgets, and technical realities is second nature, has shaped him into a leader who knows when to listen, when to guide, and when to act.
He views flexibility as another cornerstone of leadership, noting that while dreams and ideas are the starting point, the true role of a leader is to transform them into something real without diminishing the spirit that inspired them.
Beyond the Studio: The Watchmaker’s Craft
Interestingly, Ernst’s creativity doesn’t stop at filmmaking. In his free time, he handcrafts custom watches through Heusser Watch Co., a personal project that matches precision engineering with artistic flair.
He describes watchmaking as his way of relaxing, explaining that creating a one-of-a-kind timepiece is as much storytelling as filmmaking, only on a smaller scale.
This side plan not only provides balance but also reflects his core belief that creativity must remain playful. Combined with his love for travel, Ernst finds renewal in spaces that are both meticulous and boundless.
Advice for the Next Generation
When asked what guidance he would give to aspiring innovators, Ernst’s advice is refreshingly simple: Start working. He insists that connections, teamwork, and hard work matter more than certificates, underscoring that skills ultimately speak louder than titles.
He encourages young professionals to stay curious about emerging trends, especially AI, which he sees as an inevitable force in shaping production. He believes that AI will not replace humans but rather augment their work, and those who learn to use it will stay ahead of the curve.
Above all, he stresses strength, urging people not to sell themselves short. Small dreams may be reached quickly, he notes, but big dreams demand work, commitment, and faith, and they are always worth the effort.
Building Switzerland’s Innovation Hub
For Ernst, the road forward is clear. His dream is to develop Pixelmotion into Switzerland’s leading hub for virtual production, a centre of creativity and technical excellence that rivals studios in the UK, Germany, and the US.
That means building a second, larger VP studio in Zurich, expanding the country’s film and advertising capabilities, and attracting both local and international clients to Switzerland. More importantly, it means weaving AI and emerging technologies into VP while safeguarding the human soul of storytelling.
Ernst concludes that Switzerland has long been a leader in precision, design, and innovation, and he questions why the country should not also take the lead in film and creative ideas.
Reflections on the Journey
Ernst Heusser’s journey is proof that innovation prospers where love meets perseverance. From Cape Town’s film sets to Zurich’s most advanced VP studio, he has shaped his career by embracing change, trusting people, and daring to dream bigger than his surroundings.
As Switzerland positions itself on the global stage of creative industries, leaders like Ernst are not just keeping pace, they are setting the rhythm. With his vision, Switzerland’s filmmaking future looks every bit as dynamic and limitless as the virtual worlds Pixelmotion brings to life.
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