Before Full Sail University’s Studio V1 was even open, students were poking their heads inside to check out the new virtual production studio.
They were there to get a glimpse of the $3 million facility on Full Sail’s Winter Park campus, which was unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 8.
What began as a proposal less than a year ago is now a state-of-the-art studio that uses the latest technology to create realistic backgrounds for films, TV shows and commercials.
Studio V1 will offer Full Sail students a chance to work with cutting-edge technology that will put them ahead of the curve in the industry — and it can draw more video production work to metro Orlando.
This technology often is associated with its use in “The Mandalorian,” but Full Sail Visual Arts Education Director Rick Ramsey told Orlando Inno the concentration of film, design and gaming talent at Full Sail give the Winter Park facility a leg up.
“The Mandalorian has nothing on us,” he said.
The process begins with 3D models of environments, ranging from the inside of a mansion to an alien planet, built in game engine software. Then, the model is displayed on a 40-foot-wide, curved wall and a partial ceiling, both covered in LED panels.
To see inside the studio, check out the gallery above.
This technology eliminates the need to physically build entire sets, while also replacing green screens. Ultimately, the use of these studios can speed up the production timeline, Full Sail Course Director Kyle Frazer said.
The studio has attracted interest from at least one feature film project that wants to use the facility. However, Ramsey said he cannot share any details yet.
The biggest drawback to the virtual production studios is they are new enough that there’s still a learning curve for directors on how to work with the technology, Ramsey said. Still, the use of these studios is only expected to grow.
Studio V1’s presence inside a university is distinct, but it’s not the only virtual production studio in the area. The AirLot Inc. operates a similar studio on Sound Stage 21 in the Universal Studios Florida backlot.
Plus, another studio is likely on its way to Orlando. Tampa-based Vu Technologies Corp. this month announced a $17 million seed round to expand its network of virtual production studios. Before the investment round, Vu named Orlando as one of its targeted expansion markets.
More of this kind of work in Orlando may create more jobs with strong wages. For example, jobs in Florida’s film and entertainment industry in 2017 paid an average annual salary of $81,700, according to the most recent data from Florida TaxWatch. That’s much higher than metro Orlando’s average annual salary of $48,535, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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