The Digital Executive – Ep. 1054

Nimrod Harel on Illusions, Innovation, and the Future of Virtual Entertainment

Date: May 2, 2025
Host: Coruzant Technologies
Guest: Nimrod Harel, Founder & CEO of Game Changer

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Coruzant Technologies welcomes Nimrod Harel, a renowned mentalist turned tech innovator and the founder of Game Changer, a cutting-edge virtual production company. Nimrod shares how his background in illusion paved the way for technological breakthroughs in virtual entertainment, the impact of Game Changer’s technology on TV production, and his vision for the near future of virtual studios. The discussion dives into the intersection of magic, psychology, CGI, and affordable high-quality TV, with a focus on practical impact and creative philosophy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Mentalism to Tech Innovation

[01:24–02:00]

• Harel’s roots as a mentalist: He frames both illusions and virtual production as the art of making people believe in simulations.
• Quote:

  “A mentalist is kind of a magician... We are in the illusion business... The distance between this and creating a virtual company or virtual technology is very small... we are making, influencing actually, the audience—the viewers—to believe they are real.”
  — Nimrod Harel [01:24]

2. Game Changer’s Virtual Studio Technology

[02:31–07:02]

• What sets Game Changer apart: They create dynamic, interactive virtual environments for TV and game shows, eliminating the need for large physical sets.
• Concrete examples:
  • A 30-foot high virtual bingo machine created for a show in Mexico.
  • Family Piggy Bank: Over 300 episodes in Portugal, “the best looking show ever hit the Portugal TV,” produced for a fraction of standard costs.
• Comparison to green screen:
  • Unlike green screens, which are often obviously fake unless hours are spent on post-editing, Game Changer’s tech seamlessly blends real and virtual elements for a photorealistic look.
  • Meticulous attention to detail, even simulating dust, ensures realism.
• Ultimate goal:

  “We don’t want the viewers to think, ‘Okay, this is CGI.’... We need to bring something to the table that is 10 times stronger than green screen... It’s all about creating a perfect illusion.”
  — Nimrod Harel [04:38]

• Industry impact:
  • Their technology allows big-budget visuals without big-budget expenses, “turning production upside down.”
  • The balance between lower cost and higher on-screen value is where Game Changer “changes the game.”

3. Merging Mentalism with Virtual Production

[07:34–11:17]

• Team of illusionists:
  • Nimrod and Yaron Yashinsky (co-founder, CGI specialist) combine mentalist principles and CGI mastery.
  • Yaron has worked on major projects with Beyoncé, Maroon 5, and others.
• Applying the ‘Too Perfect Theory’:

  “If something looks too perfect, you won’t believe it... We know the world is not perfect.”
  — Nimrod Harel [08:25]

  • Realism comes from imperfections—‘dirtying up’ CGI, subtle details like dust, seamless mixing of real and virtual visuals.
• Dual Reality in Production:
  • The viewers at home and contestants in the studio often see different realities, which must be blended using principles from magic and psychology.
  • Example from their show “The Big Picture”: pre-recorded show with interactive elements for viewers, achieved by employing ‘dual reality’ techniques from mentalism.
  • Importance of “no gap” between studio and at-home experience, so the audience does not question the illusion.

4. The Future of Virtual Entertainment

[11:54–14:41]

• Rapid technological progress:
  • What once seemed far off is now imminent: “Just from the past three months I’m thinking this is going to take between a year or two that you are going to see virtual sets like ours and others everywhere.” [14:25]
  • Mentions XR screens used in productions like The Mandalorian as key technological leaps.
• Democratization of production:

  “As long as virtual sets are going to bring something that looks as good as real sets, but you are going to pay for them ten times less, these are the sets that are going to change the industry.”
  — Nimrod Harel [12:52]

  • Smaller markets and broadcasters can access “US-level” production quality without prohibitive costs.
  • More jobs, more shows, and a leveling of the global playing field in visual TV quality.
• Shift is inevitable:

  “This is not even a war... This is something you need to join. Because we are bringing broadcasters and production companies that couldn’t afford big shows—we bring them the opportunity to do it.”
  — Nimrod Harel [13:34]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On illusion and technology:

  “This balance between how much you are going to pay for the show and what you get on screen—this is where we change the game because you’re going to pay much less and you’re going to get much more.”
  — Nimrod Harel [06:28]

• On dual reality:

  “The viewers at home are not experiencing the same experience the contestant at the studio are experiencing... Our job is to create there has been no difference.”
  — Nimrod Harel [09:41]

• On the future of TV production:

  “All shows are going to look so good because once you’re using the virtual, you don’t need to invest so much money to create big sets.”
  — Nimrod Harel [14:11]

Key Timestamps

• [01:24] Mentalism as a foundation for technological illusion
• [02:31] Explanation of Game Changer’s virtual studio technology
• [06:28] Cost vs. production value in virtual sets
• [07:34] Applying magic theory (‘too perfect theory’) to CGI
• [09:41] Dual reality—melding on-set and at-home viewer experiences
• [11:54] Predictions and outlook for the virtual production industry
• [14:25] Timeline for mainstream adoption of virtual sets
• [15:16] Nimrod’s parting thoughts: “Look for our shows on TV, it’s going to blow your mind.”

Tone & Style Notes

Nimrod Harel’s insights are animated and evocative, often referencing his magician’s roots (“seeing is believing,” “we are in the illusion business”), and he explains technical advances using accessible, vivid examples. The host maintains an enthusiastic and appreciative tone throughout, helping highlight the wow factor and real-world impact of these virtual production innovations.

Summary prepared for listeners and professionals interested in the crossroads of illusion, technology, and entertainment production.