Exclusive Launch Event Features Presentations and Live Panel of Experts, Tours of a Working Virtual Production Volume
The Final Pixel Academy, in partnership with Screen Scotland, Nightsky Studios and Blazing Griffin formally launched the highly-lauded Virtual Production Fellowship programme on Friday, December 15, 2023 with an exclusive invitation-only event featuring a series of presentations, a live panel of virtual production industry experts, and a tour of fully-operational virtual production stage.
Final Pixel Academy - along with Screen Scotland who are one of the seven British Film Institute (BFI) Skills Clusters - recently announced its ambitious, first-of-its-kind Virtual Production Fellowship programme designed and developed to teach the critical skills, techniques and technologies and creative application within Virtual Production capabilities to enable participating delegates to carve new career paths in the burgeoning virtual production industry. The training is fully funded for participants and exclusively for candidates based in Scotland.
The exclusive kick-off event and launch of the Virtual Production Fellowship marked a momentous event for Scotland's creative and production community. The Fellowship is a three-year programme developed in partnership with Nightsky Studios in Glasgow, Scotland, and Blazing Griffin, and will introduce virtual production, the key technologies and concepts that encompass virtual production workflows.
The Live Panel of Virtual Production Experts
During the course of the event, Final Pixel Academy will conduct a live panel discussion and Q&A session on the methodology behind its new training programme and the impact this will have on the future of the Scottish film and television industry. The Industry Expert Panel Discussion will be moderated by the head of Final Pixel Academy, Dr. Jodi Nelson-Tabor, and will feature:
- Michael McKenna, CEO, Final Pixel
- Steven Little, Head of Production, Screen Scotland
- Ben Bentley, Studio Executive, Nightsky Studios
- Naysun Alae-Carew, Managing Director, Blazing Griffin
- Jamie Lapsley, Production Designer, AMPAS/BFDG
Invitees will also have the opportunity to experience a working, state-of-the-art virtual production stage. The event will take place between 6pm and 8:30pm on Friday 15th December at BBC Studioworks, Glasgow Scotland.
About the Screen Scotland Virtual Production Fellowship
The inaugural Virtual Production Fellowship by Final Pixel Academy is a three-year programme developed in partnership with Nightsky Studios based in Coatbridge, Scotland, and Blazing Griffin, based in Glasgow, and will introduce virtual production, the key technologies and concepts that encompass virtual production workflows.
The fellowship will also provide delegates with in-depth understanding of, and preparation for, the critical skills required, and the practical know-how to develop virtual production best practices through practical hands-on and on-set experience. The Virtual Production Fellowship in Glasgow is the first endeavor in a world-wide initiative by Final Pixel Academy to bring virtual production education and career development to creatives throughout Europe and the United States.
The goal of The Virtual Production Fellowship is to empower delegates to create viable, valuable career paths within virtual production and prepare them for careers in a new era of immersive, engaging virtual production workflows. Ultimately, the Fellowship seeks to build a network of high quality virtual production teams and talent at a nation level throughout Scotland.
About BFI Skills Clusters
The BFI Skills Clusters funding enables organisations to work collaboratively with local industry, education and training providers to develop clearer pathways to long-term employment in film and TV production. The Skills Clusters see locally-based partners identifying skills shortages and gaps and coordinate skills and training opportunities for below-the-line production crew in their area. Through the Clusters, the BFI aims to build local skills bases by helping people across the UK, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, find viable routes into the screen industry and effective career development support.
To date, the BFI has invested a total of £8.1m National Lottery funding over three years in the following areas:
- Screen Yorkshire (North of England): £2.3m
- Film London (London, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire): £2.2m
- Screen Scotland (Scotland): £1.1m
- Create Central (West Midlands): £1m
- Northern Ireland Screen (Northern Ireland): £0.9m
- Resource Productions (Berkshire): £0.6m
The BFI is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. Our mission is:
- To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
- To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
- To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals - delivered online and in venue
- To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding of film and the moving image
- To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Tim Richards.
About Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and tv industry, through funding and strategic support. Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About Nightsky Studios
Nightsky Studios are Scotland's first full turnkey VP supplier based in Coatbridge with 32,000 square feet of studio space for film and HETV. For more information, please visit https://wearenightsky.com/.
About Blazing Griffin
Blazing Griffin is a BAFTA-winning Glasgow-based digital entertainment company which specialises in storytelling across a wide range of platforms and mediums with a specific focus on video game development, film and TV production and high-end post production services. For more information, please visit https://www.blazinggriffin.com/.
About Final Pixel Academy
Final Pixel Academy is the training arm of Final Pixel, providing the latest virtual production techniques and skills from industry experts working on virtual production projects for major broadcasters and international brands. We are training and upskilling the next generation of virtual production artists, technicians, producers, and directors in the latest technology that is constantly evolving and rapidly changing. For more information on the Academy, please visit www.finalpixelacademy.com.
About Final Pixel
Final Pixel is an award-winning global Creative Virtual Production and Innovation Works with expertise in producing, world-building technology development and education.
Final Pixel is defining the immersive, engaging, and sustainable future for Film, Episodic and Advertising through its own virtual production workflows, techniques, and real-time virtual art world-building technologies, and is leading a global virtual production education, training and career-building initiative led by its own team of experts and delivered through the Final Pixel Academy.
To learn more and to become immersed in this new era of limitless creativity, please visit www.finalpixel.com