The first notable virtual production came in the form of StageCraft and ‘the Mandalorian’ a Disney+ and Lucasfilm coproduction set in the Star Wars universe. It no longer mattered where in a galaxy far far away that the stories were based. Directors could capture the rolling vistas of Tatooine in a Californian warehouse instead of flying a cast and crew to battle scorching sun and sand-spoiled lenses in Tunisia. Not only did the practise significantly reduce costs (a necessity when bringing Star Wars to the small screen) but the carefully controlled sets made filming possible during the 2020-2021 worldwide lockdowns. It seemed the perfect storm. The rise of streaming services demanded a constant stream of quality content while audiences were unable to return to cinemas. In just a few short years there have been countless productions made using StageCraft technology. From caped crusaders in The Batman (2022) to flying mythical beasts in House of the Dragon (2022). |
Darren Kerr, Head of Film & Media at Solent University told us why he fought to have this new technology included in the curriculum.
"With the landscape of the industry evolving so quickly it is crucial that we prepare the next generation of creatives to shape the future of virtual production in all its forms."
Phil Griffiths, Education Lead for Framesync, will be introducing the VP studio at the March Network. Phil bridges the gaps between technical, creative and logistic teams to produce impactful media and his work with Framesync empowers storytellers through virtual production technology.
We look forward to welcoming Phil and our Network to the studio on 12 March 2024. Starting at The Spark, Solent University at 7pm. Book your free ticket to attend.