It’s critical to stay up to date with the latest industry techniques when teaching in the classroom. It’s handy to have hands-on experiences that replicate modern trends used in film production.
But to give students access to one of Australia’s best virtual production companies and industry-leading technology, there’s no experience more valuable to students in creative arts.
To show just how this benefits QUT graduates entering the workforce, we’ll run you through our partnerships with Vizion and the BMW Design Academy, and the experiences our students had with both industry experts and the technology.
Vizion: The leaders in virtual production
Vizion is a world-class virtual art department that specialise in real-time animation and virtual world creation. Using Unreal Engine, they can create complete environments that track the placements of cameras, cast or virtual characters to keep the virtual world accurate.
Having worked on feature films like Elvis, music videos for chart-topping artists, TV shows and endless commercials, they are setting the benchmark for virtual production design in Australia.
The XR Screen Futures Hub
Sitting a little closer to home, the XR Screen Futures Hub is QUT’s very own space for virtual production, bringing together the latest digital capabilities, technologies and research.
Surrounding the room (and the industrial-sized screen), there is a series of cameras that can track the location of a camera, a character for motion animation, or anything else that can play into virtual production.
The XR Screen Futures Hub was exactly what Vizion needed to show their capabilities in virtual design. And according to Prof. Damian Candusso, Vizion were more than impressed with the facilities housed at QUT.
“The feedback from Vizion is this space is at a level which is industry-equivalent and would rival anything in Sydney or Brisbane.”
Prof. Damian Candusso, Head of School, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice.
When industry leaders meet the XR Screen Futures Hub
Vizion’s partnership and training gave QUT students across a variety of disciples head starts on their industry experience.
Acting in the new age
Acting students had the chance to perform in the modern film environment, with virtual backgrounds making for near immediate changes to their set. From chatting in a café to driving down the highway, Vizion’s virtual environments gave students the chance to perform in the industry’s standard set of the future.
Collaborations with BMW Group + QUT Design Academy
The event saw input and collaboration with BMW Group and QUT Design Academy, to use the BMW M8 used in research and special design projects for filming. In fact, students within the School of Design were able to collaborate and learn about the art of virtual design, and how sets are built from computers (not cardboard).
Film students getting ahead of industry demand
For film, technical production and visual arts students, they were able to engage in rich Q&As with those currently working in industry, and explore what techniques and technologies bring these new sets to life. Knowing more and more film production is turning to this technology in lieu of green screens or expensive shooting on site, this knowledge and experience keeps QUT students ready for what the industry will ask of them. They even had the chance to work alongside Vizion’s own director, to learn how they can extract the most value from virtual production sets.
A holistic experience for all trades
Instead of learning in silos (acting students just with actors, or film students just with directors), experiences such as these give each field the chance to interact and engage with the other sides of filmmaking, as they will in real-world applications.
Study where film students are kept ahead of industry
If you’re ready to pursue your dream career in the creative arts, ensure your education is keeping you at the cutting edge of industry practice and technology. Learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts, and find the major that best suits you.