East Sussex College Virtual Production Open Day Engages Young Creatives to Develop & Retain Specialist Skills in the Region
Developing opportunities for film & TV production, education & technical innovation in the South East of England
Sussex, UK - 23rd Feb 2024: Racquet Studios, a Sussex-based trailblazer in the realm of Virtual Production, celebrated an immensely successful Student Open Day with East Sussex College at their cutting-edge Eastbourne facility on Thursday 22nd February, offering more than 120 attendees from a range of creative courses a deep dive into the transformative world of virtual content creation and filmmaking.
The event, which was hosted in partnership with Canon Cinema EOS Cameras and Croatian specialist manufacturer, stYpe, illustrated the evolution of Virtual Production, highlighting its significant advantages over traditional filmmaking methods while emphasising the various creative and technical skills that feed into the cutting-edge solution.
Virtual Production represents an innovative and groundbreaking addition to the filmmaker’s toolkit, which conventionally consists of green screens, sound stages, physical set building and location shooting. It opens new opportunities for creative flexibility, budget-friendliness, and sustainability and Racquet Studios is at the forefront of this revolution.
The event solidified Racquet Studios' commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the field of Virtual Production while engaging with young creatives to develop and retain skills in the region.
The day, which was split into two sessions, kicked off with a comprehensive introduction to Virtual Production, where the Racquet team guided participants through the sector's evolution. Attendees gained insights into the technical ecosystem that breathes life into their Virtual Production workflow and explored real-world applications. The team showcased the creative freedom offered by virtual set-building in game engines, emphasising its seamless integration with traditional filmmaking techniques.
The team also delved into the process of photogrammetry, unveiling the intricate method of creating digital twins of objects and environments through complex photography techniques. This process plays a crucial role in the complex re-creation of assets that fuel the digital creative ecosystem.
Before breaking for lunch, all students had the opportunity to take to the stage and get hands-on with the professional setup, which included Canon Cinema EOS Cameras, lenses and global-leading camera tracking technology from stYpe.
The afternoon session continued to include a detailed technical and practical masterclass in camera tracking technology, featuring a special guest and technician from, stYpe, the Emmy Award-winning leader in camera tracking hardware and software, who had flown in from Croatia, especially for the event. The representative shared invaluable expertise, elevating the session to an unparalleled learning opportunity.
Simon Skinner, Managing Director, Racquet Studios, said:
“Since launching in June 2023, we have engaged with local and regional education partners to drive technological and creative skills in the South East. It is critical for us to encourage the development of an advanced creative digital economy in the South East. It is an exciting and vibrant time for the burgeoning UK Creative Industries as Games, Film & High-End TV especially, drive the strongest sector of the UK economy that is currently worth circa £115bn per annum.
The popularity of this event demonstrates the appetite of young creatives in our area. We have a rich program of events planned for 2024, for individual training partners and open events for freelancers, production houses and creatives in the region.”.
Hands-On Experience in Sussex's First Independent Virtual Production Studio
The Student Open Day gave participants a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in Sussex's first virtual production studio. Students immersed themselves in the technology, gaining valuable insights into the market and future opportunities in both film and lateral industries. The event solidified Racquet Studios' commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the field of Virtual Production while engaging with young creatives to develop and retain skills in the region.
Kristina Crgar, Project Manager, stYpe, said:
“Presenting our RedSpy 3.0 camera tracking system at Racquet Studios was truly exciting. We had the chance to demonstrate the versatility and potential of the tracking systems. Seeing the positive reactions from the audience was incredibly rewarding. This experience fuels our enthusiasm to continue refining and expanding RedSpy's capabilities. We eagerly anticipate further collaborations with Racquet Studios, as we believe our partnership holds great promise for driving impactful advancements in technology and creativity.”
Advantages of Virtual Production
The impact of virtual production extends far beyond traditional methods. When comparing the results of an average 1-day virtual production shoot to conventional approaches, the advantages are unmistakable:
3x Content Output
4x Carbon Footprint Reduction
40-50% Saving on Travel & Logistics
24 Hours of Guaranteed Weather
Time Efficient & Budget-Friendly
Real-time rendering capabilities streamline decision-making and expedite the production process.
Reduced need for extensive set-building, travel, and physical prop-making.
Minimises costs associated with reshooting and extensive post-production/editing.
Consistent shooting schedules unaffected by weather conditions and access restrictions.
Creative Flexibility:
Virtual environments provide unparalleled creative freedom.
Real-time adjustments during shooting for rapid iteration.
Advanced technologies, including high-resolution LED volume stages, enhance visual realism.
Sustainability:
Facilitates collaboration among team members globally.
Reduces the need for physical sets and travel, contributing to a more sustainable approach.
Minimises waste associated with traditional set construction, aligning with eco-friendly practices.
Matt Kemp, Head of Curriculum, Creative and Digital, East Sussex College, Eastbourne, said:
“The team at Racquet scheduled a fantastic opportunity for our students and staff at East Sussex College in Eastbourne. Racquet very kindly offered us a day of dynamic and engaging talks, presentations and hands-on activities to help explore the opportunities for creative students in virtual production. The studio gave a professional, inspiring and impressive opportunity for us all to learn about this new technology and development. We are hugely grateful for the experience which was planned and delivered in a professional, friendly and inspiring manner.”
Racquet Studios extends gratitude to all attendees, and partners for contributing to the success of this groundbreaking event for the region.
Follow Racquet Studios’ social media handles to stay up to date with future open events. Just search for them: @RacquetStudios
