Racquet Studios: Virtual Film Production Facility Launches By The Seaside
Developing opportunities for film & TV production, education & technical innovation in the South East of England
Racquet Studios; a new and ambitious virtual film production facility has been revealed in the South East of England. Located in Eastbourne’s prestigious Devonshire Quarter, home to the Eastbourne International Tennis Tournament and the award-winning Towner Art Gallery, the town hosts one of the UK’s foremost dedicated independent facilities for virtual film production, education and specialist research and development.
The facility has been developed to support existing businesses and production companies through technical innovation to produce world-class creative content while creating a progressive creative economy, bringing investment, education and skilled year-round jobs to the region.
The global virtual production market was worth £1,260.5 million in 2019 and is projected to register a continued annual growth rate of 15.8% through 2027.
Virtual production leverages a host of ground-breaking technologies and is proven as a far more agile and cost-effective production process compared with traditional linear production techniques. This method of production enables filmmakers to visualise digital elements, live-action footage and virtual set extensions together in real-time like never before.
Fusing camera-tracking technology with state-of-the-art video game engines, powerful graphics servers, high-resolution LED panels and green screens, this method of content creation has huge cinematic potential, making it possible to create versatile 360-degree, photorealistic environments for immersive performance and content creation.
The blend of these technologies within Racquet Studios creates the perfect environment for film and high-end TV production, whilst allowing advertisers, games developers, live events and content creators access to the very latest virtual production technologies and talent.
Simon Skinner, Managing Director, Racquet Studios, said:
“The project has been developed to drive virtual film production, technological development and skills in the South East. Working with our tech and education partners, Racquet Studios will deliver a centre of excellence to expand the evolution of specialist solutions for creative industries. The experienced team at Raquet Studios is on hand for all of its clients and partners to ensure an excellent experience with market-leading results, whilst developing a pipeline of skills to develop the next generation of creatives. Whether you’re in film, high-end episodic TV, broadcast, gaming, advertising, music, fashion or other creative industries, Racquet Studios is the perfect space for your next production.”
Education
Working in an alliance with local and national education partners including the BFI [British Film Institute] and East Sussex College, along with leading hardware manufacturers including Canon Europe Ltd, Quasar Science and Litepanels, Racquet Studios will deliver a comprehensive training program to educate in all aspects of traditional and contemporary filmmaking. The program will address the skills gap in virtual film production and mocap with further/higher education placements and apprenticeships. Along with courses in virtual production management, production management for screen, audio and virtual production, the program will include a series of CPD [continuous professional development] courses across emerging technologies in the sector. This practical training will be complemented by a full audience development program, masterclasses and live streams with a focus on young and disadvantaged audiences.
Facilities
Racquet Studios’ complex comprises three main facilities with two having been designed and built during the extensive, multi-million-pound redevelopment of Eastbourne’s Devonshire Quarter. The spaces, 93' x 57' and 75' x 52' respectively are both fully sound-proofed with 3-phase power and air conditioning throughout. They have fibre & HD-SDI patching with on-site catering, showers, toilets, storage, wardrobe facilities, on-site crew and a great deal more.
The UK’s creative industries contribute more than £115.9 billion to the UK economy annually and employ 2.1 million+ people.
Racquet Studios’ HQ houses an Absen LED volume, with high-speed [10G] internet speeds, a large green screen cove and all peripheral outboard equipment to drive your next production.
All image-based lighting running within the Absen volume is provided by a combination of Litepanels and Quasar Science products. High-output Gemini 1x1 RGBWW LED panels have been paired with Rainbow 2 and Double Rainbow multi-pixel linear LEDs to offer automated lighting alongside ambient lighting effects to augment the virtual set.
This space also provides the majority of research and development and educational activities undertaken by the Racquet Studios team and its partners. The team is also developing a custom 360-degree sound installation with the ability to record binaural audio to complement Racquet Studios’ cutting-edge output.
The UK is estimated to be losing out on almost a billion pounds worth of production income every year, due to the shortfall in studio space. Demand dictates that by 2026, 30,000 new high-skilled creative/tech jobs will be required in the UK
Michael Herbert, Product Manager, Lighting, at Videndum Production Solutions, said:
“We’re pleased to be joining forces with the team at Racquet Studios in this exciting new facility. Litepanels and Quasar Science, along with other brands under the Videndum Production Solutions umbrella, are keen to push boundaries in the burgeoning world of virtual production and where better than by the Great British seaside?”
Sustainability, Time, Budget & Health Benefits
The appetite for virtual productions has seen rapid growth during and beyond the global health pandemic. The advanced technology available at Racquet Studios allows productions to capture scenes and environments within the studio spaces instead of having to travel to remote locations or the need to build expensive physical sets. The in-house team and facilities and partner studios are skilled in producing 'out of this world' environments that are impossible to create within a traditional film set environment. This is complemented by a strong capacity to develop ‘digital twins’ of physical environments and objects through high-end photogrammetry processes. These processes have been developed alongside the studio facilities and deliver a major benefit for the environment and for production budgets as well as enabling film & events production to continue to produce stunning content regardless of any travel or budget restrictions.
With increasing pressure to boost the yield of content from any shoot, Racquet Studios delivers great economy in terms of time and budget, whilst promoting environmentally sustainable productions that are future-proofed in service to their carbon-neutral objectives.
Aron Randhawa, Product Marketing Specialist, Canon Europe Ltd, said:
“Canon is proud to be supporting the launch event of Racquet Studios. The studio provides an exciting new space for creatives to unleash their potential while offering educational opportunities in filmmaking and virtual production for the next generation of content creators.”
Shooting by the Sea
Eastbourne has a rich heritage of welcoming productions to its shores. Boasting a wide variety of physical shooting locations, the town has provided the backdrop for film & TV productions as varied as Harry Potter, James Bond, The Crown, Agatha Christie, Top Gear, Little Britain and many, many more besides.
The town’s diverse locations include northern Europe’s largest marina complex, the iconic white cliffs of Beachy Head and an equally iconic Victorian pier, to name but a few. These iconic locations bolster opportunities for hybrid productions in the region.
Jonathan Dyson, Virtual Production Development Director, at Absen Europe, said:
“Absen are proud to be supporting Racquet Studios as they open their new virtual production facility by the seaside. Showcasing an Absen LED volume and using the latest in technology to provide a state of the art film studio. Delivering better image quality and allowing more flexibility whilst being more sustainable in the process.”
Locally
With great access by road and rail, the complex also enjoys super-fast broadband with direct links to the capital and Gatwick Airport just 45 minutes away by road or rail.
The facilities’ central location provides immediate access to a wide range of hotels, including Eastbourne’s famous Grand Hotel, [also known as the 'White Palace'] which is just a 2-minute walk from Racquet Studios. Other notable accommodation includes Eastbourne’s Port Hotel; a lovingly restored contemporary townhouse boutique hotel with far-reaching sea views that’s just a stone’s throw from the beach. Port boasts 19 modern bedrooms with a relaxed restaurant and inviting cocktail bar.
Along with its abundance of accommodation options, Eastbourne also boasts numerous eateries and pubs, including Bistro Pierre, which sits on the Western Lawns and offers stunning panoramic views of the sea. With so much more to discover in the town, visitors will be spoilt for choice with an enviable array of options when it comes to breaks in production.
Josh Lewis, Production Director, Racquet Studios, said:
“Virtual film production has arrived as a significant evolution within the filmmaking landscape. It’s born from a formidable blend of technologies that create results far beyond the sum of its parts, allowing specialist studios to drive greater creative experimentation while controlling the time and cost of production.”
Racquet Studios brings a shot in the arm to the region, offering a potential hybrid filmmaking solution, marrying physical location shooting with its state-of-the-art creative facility to guarantee the weather, time of day, and light.
Racquet Studios has exceptional support facilities and extensive space for small-to-large productions. Boasting a comprehensive in-house kit list, any equipment that may need to be hired can be supplied via nearby rental houses, which can make urgent deliveries within a 30-minute timeframe.
The new facility is commercially available on a dry and wet hire rental model, with an experienced team on hand to lead through any parts of the virtual production process, wherever required.
