Skills Bootcamps in Virtual Production: The Future of TV Production
In 2023, the global Virtual Production (VP) market size was valued at $2.97 billion and expected to rise to $3.37 billion by the end of 2024. Some of the biggest films and TV series in recent years have utilised Virtual Production - from ‘Dune Part Two’, ‘House of the Dragon’, and ‘Barbie’; to ‘The Lion King’, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and several Star Wars production since 2016’s ‘Rogue One’. With investment pouring in and more and more facilities popping up around the nation, the time to get involved is now!
Combining traditional processes with powerful emerging technologies, production companies are making the seemingly impossible, possible. These new methods of production require talent to get to grips with a range of new skills, tools and techniques.
If the last year and a half in TV & Film has shown us anything, it’s that building on your skill set and opening yourself up to more career opportunities is incredibly valuable in times of downturn.
That’s why Gritty Talent is proud to partner with the University of Bristol and MARS Academy on two, free Skills Bootcamps in Virtual Production - designed to equip talent with the skills and knowledge they need to join the forefront of modern TV & Film production.
What are the Skills Bootcamps in Virtual Production?
The Skills Bootcamps are free career-developing courses giving people over the age of 19 the opportunity to build up in-demand skills through a mix of hands-on training, expert workshops and mentoring. There are two options for the Skills Bootcamp in Virtual Production…
Skills Bootcamp with Unreal Engine:
Successful applicants will get to grips with the leading real-time 3D creation tool Unreal Engine - used in Gaming, TV, Film and more - over the course of 100 hours. Unreal Engine is a powerful, real-time 3D creation tool that enables users to create highly detailed and interactive environments, characters, and visual effects with real-time rendering - offering creators the flexibility to make changes on the fly and produce detailed, lifelike visuals.
Skills Bootcamp with the Sony VENICE 2:
With 60 hours of learning time, this option offers applicants hands-on experience with the top-of-the-range video camera and have the chance to become an accredited Sony VENICE 2 camera operator. The Sony VENICE 2 is a cutting-edge, full-frame digital cinema camera. Known for its exceptional image quality, dynamic range, and versatility, it’s a go-to choice for Virtual Production due to its ability to capture detailed visuals in challenging lighting conditions.
By the end of each course, you'll have learned the building blocks of Virtual Production - from the conception of an idea to the planning, filming and post-production. You’ll have received training in either Unreal Engine or the Sony VENICE 2 camera, had practical experience on a Virtual Production set, got the chance to add to your portfolio and an opportunity to meet employers in the region.
On top of that, Gritty Talent will be running a series of career-focused workshops that will cover CV advice, career mapping, inclusive leadership, effective networking and successful interviewing.
Running from December 2024 to March 2025, the Skills Bootcamps are perfect for both entry/mid-level creatives looking to make a career from their passions, and established TV and Film wanting to open new career opportunities in VP and the many sectors it lends itself to. The deadline for applications is October 23rd, so don’t wait!
What is Virtual Production?
Virtual Production blends traditional live-action with computer-generated imagery (CGI) in real-time using 3-D game engines (like Unreal). Not only does this allow for greater visual possibilities, it also makes it easier for production teams to visualise and tweak virtual environments while shooting, and provides actors with realistic environments to engage with - as opposed to green/blue screens.
At the heart of VP are massive LED ‘volume stages’—curved or fully enclosed high-resolution screens that bring realistic CGI backgrounds to life. These are powered by game engines like Unreal Engine, paired with motion capture, camera tracking, augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technology - giving filmmakers more creative control and offering immersive, dynamic visuals that were once only achievable in post-production.
Use of Virtual Production isn’t just restricted to Film, TV and Gaming either. Research from Loughborough University showed that VP is being used in everything from Fashion, Museums and Performing Arts to Advertising and Sports Broadcasting!
It’s not just its efficiency or creative capabilities that make virtual production so appealing - we’ve already touched on Virtual Production earlier this year, where we explored its capacity to boost inclusion and enable new levels of accessibility in the creative sector.
The Future of Production…
The Skills Bootcamps are a chance to future proof your career, for free. You’ll gain the skills and knowledge to operate exciting, emerging technology shaping the future of TV and Film production - and proving to be just as valued in other sectors.
Remember, applications close on 23rd October 2024! You can apply for the Skills Bootcamp in Unreal Engine here.
Apply for the Skills Bootcamp in Sony VENICE 2 here.
*Skills Bootcamps are fully funded for learners. Small Medium Enterprises (less than 250 employees) will only fund 10% of the full cost of the Skills Bootcamp.
