Virtual Production Bootcamp

VIRTUAL PRODUCTION BOOTCAMP OVERVIEW:

• This 12-week course provides the opportunity to gain practical experience working with a state-of-the-art game engine widely used in the Film and TV industries.
• Led by experienced professionals, learners will develop a solid understanding of the engine's capabilities and learn to apply various techniques specific to Film and TV production covering subject areas such as environment building, visual scripting, lighting, and materials, all tailored to the needs of TV and film projects.
• Through hands-on training, learners will acquire valuable skills in utilizing the game engine for creating immersive visual experiences and engaging storytelling, equipping them for careers in the dynamic fields of TV and film production where they can leverage their expertise to enhance visual effects, virtual production, and overall production quality.

Target Cohort: 

• CPD in the Live Event, TV & Film industry   
• Upskill and transition into production, film, TV & live event industries from other sectors.  
• No prior experience is necessary, and no prerequisites are required for learners to complete the course.

Learning Outcomes:

This course will provide you with knowledge and practical skills to develop in-depth skills in virtual production and mixed realities. By the end of the course, you will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be proficient in:  

• Specialist virtual production, motion-capture and mixed reality technologies; including associated software and IT programming skills
• Understand Real time fundamentals, technologies and workflows
• Realtime rendering and the virtual environment - in depth with unreal engine
• Tracking, virtual production stage design and engineering
• Utilising In camera visual effects
• Capturing content - cameras, colour workflows and on-stage challenges.
• Pre-visualisation and modelling
• Working in a team to collaborate on a practical production shoot within the virtual production studio

Career Progression Strategies:  

We are committed to providing 100% of learners with highly marketable, tangible skillsets that are highly sought after in the local marketplace and supporting them to gain employment or promotions. 

We will achieve this by ensuring learners are comprehensively supported to attain an array of skills and improved career prospects via industry professional teaching, coaching, and mentoring.  All learners have access to high quality advice, guidance, and support throughout their learning journey and until they achieve their progression goals. Interview support, CV writing skills and signposting to industry specific careers support will be ingrained throughout the course and post-delivery phase to fully prepare learners for their future careers. 

Those approaching the end of the reporting period who have not had a successful interview or progression, will continue to be supported to help them reach their career goals. We will sign post learners to additional advice, guidance, or training opportunities to enhance their chances of success if this is required.   

Outcomes:

At the end of the courses, learners will have the opportunity to:   

• Become self-employed - fully support learners with knowledge / advice about self-employment & providing IAG on how and where to find work within the industry via our extensive networks, partners, and regional businesses.   
• Gain employment – we already have a portfolio of employers who have committed to interviewing our learners and we anticipate many more once we start to advertise and promote the course and the skill development that these individuals will be undertaking. We anticipate that learners will be able to secure an interview / progression post-training as the skills and knowledge gained from this course are very specialist and highly marketable.   

DELIVERY DETAILS:

Overview:

Our courses are 8-16 weeks with a minimum of 60 GLH. Delivery consists of hands-on problem-based learning techniques, combined with a blended, flipped classroom and praxis approach. A ‘learning scaffold’ is used throughout the course to ensure all delegates work at their own pace according to ability, without being left behind others. Courses are typically delivered via a mix of remote/virtual learning and classroom / on-set/studio at high-tech facilities across the UK. 

Location(s):

Primary location will be at our regional centre below, however, may also be on set at local studio locations depending on the cohort requirements / locations:

Blitz Hire

Welham Distribution Centre,

Welham Green,

Hatfield

AL9 7HN

Delivery:

Week 1: Introduction to VP

Weeks 2-6: Developing a virtual environment in Unreal Engine

Weeks 7-9: Pathways: one choice from three available pathways:

• Creative and Management
• Advanced Environment Design
• Technical and Cinematography

Weeks 10-12:  Group projects – ‘’shoot groups”; Making a VP short film

Weeks 13-14:  Final interviews and completion

Weekly review / evaluation processes such as anonymous quizzes, in-session feedback, peer-peer feedback, and formative assessment activities are undertaken in addition to our formal review process. 

Interview preparation including CV workshops, interview support and self-employment routes are woven throughout the learner journey. Monthly reviews are conducted post-completion until the learner achieves progression, signposting for additional support if appropriate. 

Qualifications:

Skills Bootcamp in Virtual Production (Level 3 Equivalent)

WHAT CAREER ROUTES OR JOB ROLES WILL COMPLETION OF THIS SKILLS BOOTCAMP LEAD TO?

Virtual production is a rapidly growing area in the entertainment and media industry, which involves integrating real-time computer-generated elements into live-action environments. With the skills acquired during the boot camp, you would have gained valuable skills and knowledge in the field of virtual production leading to careers such as:

• Virtual Production Artist: As a virtual production artist, you would be responsible for creating and animating virtual elements, such as characters, props, and environments, and integrating them seamlessly into live-action footage.
• Virtual Production Technician: Technicians in virtual production are involved in setting up and operating the hardware and software required for real-time compositing and rendering during the production process.
• Virtual Production Coordinator: Coordinators play a crucial role in managing virtual production projects, organizing schedules, liaising with different teams, and ensuring the smooth workflow of the production process.
• Virtual Production Producer: Producers oversee the entire virtual production project, from planning and budgeting to execution and delivery. They are responsible for ensuring the project's success and managing resources effectively.
• Virtual Production Camera Operator: Virtual production camera operators work with specialized camera systems and motion-capture technology to capture live-action footage that will be integrated with virtual elements.
• Virtual Production Editor: As an editor in virtual production, you would be responsible for assembling and editing the footage captured during the production process, integrating virtual elements, and ensuring a cohesive final product.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF LIVE TECHNOLOGY

Academy of Live Technology is an industry-integrated specialist higher education provider for the live events & creative industries sector. Our head office is based on the Production Park; a campus for live events, film, TV and virtual production. We have an extensive ecosystem spanning across the UK including facilities locally in Welham Green and have good working relationships with national and international film and TV studios including Elstree, Universal & Warner Bros Studios.

Our Skills Bootcamps are designed to address the skills gaps / transferable skills needs within the TV & Film sector. Our unique facilities offer learners the chance to use state-of-the-art technology and be educated by the leading specialists whilst being supported by a wider creative ecosystem. 

We have been delivering Skills Bootcamps since April 2023 when we were awarded a contract onto the WYCA’s Skills Connect Digital Skills Framework in 2022. This programme comprises of a series of non-accredited, employer-endorsed adult training courses designed to support individuals to access higher level employment opportunities or progression within their current employment.

Our courses are designed with employer input to ensure that they are aligned to the needs of the sector. Our specialist team work collectively and iteratively to collaborate with a range of stakeholders, industry partners and employers on a regional, national and international scale to co-design, co-deliver and peer review all our course content and materials and to ensure these courses meet the diverse employability needs of the live events / creative industry sector. 

Our current portfolio consists of 98 learners; however, we have recently been awarded an additional 168 learners. Our retention rate is 86% with 100% of learners rating provision as good / excellent; as well as meeting / exceeding expectations. We expect all learners to progress into jobs or self-employment soon after completion.