New Bristol facility trains the filmmakers of tomorrow

It is a scene you would expect to see in Hollywood, not tucked away near Bristol Temple Meads Train Station. Within a 350m² studio with towering LED screens, the filmmakers of tomorrow are being trained in how to bring physical and virtual worlds together for film and TV using the very latest cutting edge technologies. A series of free ‘Skills Bootcamps’ have been taking place at The Sheds – an exciting new multi-million pound facility in Bristol’s Temple Quarter run by the University of Bristol. The £1.2 million virtual production stage uses computer-generated imagery (CGI) to help create imaginery worlds using an LED screen, replacing the more traditional green screen to make the experience more immersive.

The innovative space allows those in the creative industries to experiment and innovate alongside internationally renowned academics, changing the way film, TV and video games are created. Thanks to funding from the West of England Combined Mayoral Authority, the Skills Bootcamps have equipped 56 people with skills in ‘virtual production’ - a film-making technique that uses 3-D software, motion tracking, and computer graphics to create realistic virtual environments.

The Skills Bootcamps have been designed and developed through the University of Bristol’s MyWorld project to address critical skills gaps in the film and television industry, working in partnership with Gritty Talent, MARS Academy, Sony, and Gold Unreal authorised instructor Rob Brooks to deliver the best possible learner experience.

Kirsten Cater, professor of human computer interaction who leads the skills and training part of the MyWorld programme, said: “We know there is a desperate need to train people in the fantastic new medium of virtual production, and where better to do it than in Bristol where the film and TV industry is really thriving? It has been brilliant working with all our learners on the courses, supporting them to develop their virtual production skills to film the impossible in our cutting-edge facilities. What is even better is hearing all about the positive impact the courses have had for them. They are applying their new knowledge and skills to secure new jobs, client work and develop their creative ideas with this ‘state of the art’ technology.”

Motion capture technology
As well as the virtual production stage, the new facility at The Sheds supports motion capture technology - the kind used to bring Gollum to life in The Lord of the Rings - volumetric capture, and a soundstage for live TV broadcast alongside audio-visual galleries, edit suites and training rooms. Recently, BAFTA winners and Oscar nominated Aardman Animations’ virtual production project R&D team, visited the studio last week to recreate a scene from Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

With significant investments from both public and private sectors, Bristol’s film industry is experiencing an unprecedented boom, hosting major productions such as high-end TV series Wolf Hall. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority funded the 56 places on the Skills Bootcamps course to address the demand for people who have virtual production skills and know-how, further boosting the impact of the film and TV industry on the region’s economy.

Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, said: “I am delighted that more talented, creative local people will be able to get the top-notch training they need and deserve. It is all thanks to free-to-access Skills Bootcamps funded by my Mayoral Combined Authority. The West of England produces content that is watched by over 800 million people around the world each month. We are rightly renowned for TV and film, and I am proud to see the University of Bristol is investing in nurturing talented people too. MyWorld is an important project, helping give dozens of local people the ability to harness the latest advances in virtual technology in their careers in film and TV.”

James Dalby, a digital imaging technician based in Bristol who has worked in post-production for a range of broadcasters, said: “It’s been an absolute joy participating in the course so far and the most I have ever learned in a small space of time. The course is expertly taught, the kit is top notch and I love the group work with such a diverse mix of people from creative, technical and production backgrounds.”

Skills Bootcamps are funded through the Department of Education's National Skills Fund and form part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.