RIT SYNAPSE BLOG - The Future is Now, Why Industry Pros Need VP Skills to Keep Working
Co-authored by Aaron Gordon (Synapse VP) and David Long (RIT MAGIC Spell Studios)
In entertainment and media production, innovative technologies are essential tools to have alongside traditional filmmaking knowledge and techniques. The integration of these technologies has driven a new era of creativity, efficiency, and collaboration, making it crucial for industry professionals to adapt and expand their skill sets.
One technology in particular stands out as a game-changer: virtual production. As industry veterans and educators, we've witnessed firsthand how virtual production is transforming the landscape of film and media production. Today, we want to share why we believe it's crucial for producers, cinematographers, directors, and gaming industry professionals to get well-versed in virtual production techniques.
The virtual production revolution
Virtual production is not just a trend; it's adding an entirely new pipeline to the production process while exposing a significant talent gap. By combining real-time 3D rendering, motion capture, and large LED volume technology, virtual production is creating new workflows integrated with traditional methods. This integration results in more efficient, cost-effective, and creatively liberating approaches to content creation. It also underscores the need for more qualified professionals to meet the growing demand.
Market demand and industry shift
The demand for virtual production skills is skyrocketing. Major studios, streaming platforms, and even independent productions are increasingly utilizing these technologies. The industry is growing rapidly, and skilled workers are hard to find. Addressing the skills gap is essential for the industry and presents an opportunity for both students and professionals seeking to upskill..
The Learning Curve: Why upskill in virtual production?
Gaining expertise in virtual production isn't just about creatives acquiring technical skills or engineers
developing creative flair. It's about forging a powerful synergy between technical brilliance and creative
storytelling to address a growing talent gap in a rapidly evolving industry.
By upskilling in virtual production, professionals can position themselves at the forefront of this
transformative wave, reaping numerous benefits:
1) Stay Competitive: As more productions embrace virtual techniques, professionals who aren't
familiar with these tools risk falling behind.
2) Enhanced Creative Control: Virtual production allows for unprecedented control over
environments, lighting, and visual effects in real time.
3) Cost and Time Efficiency: While the initial investment may be significant, virtual production
can lead to substantial savings in the long run by reducing location shooting and post-
production time.
4) Cross-Industry Collaboration: Virtual production is bringing together professionals from film,
gaming, and tech industries, creating exciting new career opportunities.
5) Sustainability: By reducing the need for extensive travel and physical set construction, virtual
production aligns with growing industry efforts to reduce carbon footprints.
Bridging the gap: our upcoming workshop
This demand for convergence of skills is reshaping how we approach storytelling and content creation.
It's opening doors to innovative workflows and creative possibilities that were once unimaginable.
To address this critical need for education, RIT and Synapse are offering a Virtual Production Master
Class. This intensive four-day program,scheduled for October 11-14, 2024, in Los Angeles, offers
hands-on experience with cutting-edge virtual production techniques.
Led by industry experts including award-winning cinematographer Christopher Probst, ASC, Emily
Haldeman, and Rich Lee from Synapse, along with Oscar winning faculty from RIT's School of Film and
Animation, including Flip Phillips and Mark Reisch, this workshop is designed to give participants the
skills and knowledge to step directly onto a virtual production crew.
Here's a glimpse into some of the topics covered in our RIT and Synapse Master Class:
• Virtual Art Department (VAD) fundamentals, including game engine workflows, previsualization,
asset creation & management, and optimization for deployment to the virtual production stage
• Core LED stage operation, including real-time render engines, media servers, LED processors, LED
display panels, and more
• Virtual production stage characterization, focused on graphics delivery optimization, color management,
and camera-to-wall best practices
• Real-time environment integration, with camera tracking, lens and sensor metadata, stage
virtualization (nDisplay), and VAD playback
• Roles and workflows in virtual production
• Advanced techniques in creative merger of virtual and traditional cinematographic design
Embracing the Future of Content Creation Virtual production has emerged as a powerful tool in modern film production, seamlessly blending with
traditional techniques to unlock new realms of creative possibility. By mastering this innovative approach,
professionals position themselves at the cutting edge of content creation, ready to shape the future of
visual storytelling.
Don't miss this chance to revolutionize your skillset. The future of content creation is here, and it needs
visionaries like you to shape it. We invite you to seize this opportunity and become an integral part of the
virtual production revolution. Space in our Master Class certification course is limited, so we encourage
early registration online.
