4Wall Entertainment, ZeroSpace, and disguise team up to empower the next generation of filmmakers with a hands-on virtual production course
disguise has partnered with 4Wall Entertainment, a full-service lighting, video, and rigging company, and ZeroSpace, a next-gen production and creative studio, to launch a new virtual production training program in the heart of New York City. The disguise Virtual Production Accelerator will empower the city’s aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals with the skills needed to excel in the rapidly evolving world of virtual production.
The New York Accelerator is just one of disguise’s many virtual production training courses worldwide after the Virtual Production Accelerator launched in Los Angeles in November 2022 and the UK in May 2023. Each course features a combination of in-classroom and hands-on lessons and was developed to meet the global demand for training in these cutting-edge production techniques.
“Our goal is to revolutionize virtual production and equip the next generation of filmmakers with the necessary expertise to harness its full potential,” says Addy Ghani, Vice President of Virtual Production at disguise, who spearheads the program. “Currently, finding experienced professionals in this field is a challenge. We are confident that, with our in-depth understanding of the technology and studio workflows, we can empower participants to become proficient in virtual production.”
We are confident that, with our in-depth understanding of the technology and studio workflows, we can empower participants to become proficient in virtual production.
Addy Ghani, Vice President of Virtual Production at disguise
Teaching the Next Generation of Storytellers
The Virtual Production Accelerator provides an immersive and comprehensive on-set learning experience for participants of all skill levels. Leveraging the expertise and facilities of 4Wall and ZeroSpace in New York, XPLOR in the UK, and ROE Visual in Los Angeles, the program combines classroom training with principal practical photography, enabling trainees to gain hands-on experience and an accurate simulation of the demands faced on real film sets.
Trainees learn across three stages – Learn, Classroom, and Accelerator. In the Learn Phase, they can access online courses to learn real-time fundamentals in Unreal Engine. In the Classroom Phase, trainees can attend formal hands-on training with an instructor to learn more advanced concepts. The Accelerator Phase will immerse the trainees into a pre-planned film shoot, giving participants the opportunity to experience multiple roles on set, including disguise operations, game engine integration, practical lighting, and cinematography.
Access to top-tier creative technology is among the Virtual Production Accelerator’s many advantages. Trainees can gain hands-on experience with professional filmmaking tools, such as RED Komodo and Stype Redspy camera packages, ARRI SkyPanels, Chauvet LED Ellipsoidal, and high-end LED moving lights, complete with a traditional lighting console.
Trainees that complete the course receive their disguise Virtual Production Accelerator certification. They also are enrolled in disguise’s Virtual Production Insider Group and qualify for one-on-one help from disguise’s VP specialists. By the end, they have the knowledge, experience, and support to take the first steps into an exciting new career in virtual filmmaking.
disguise chief executive Fernando Küfer says: “There is a multitude of incredible virtual production courses available, yet trainees still encounter a steep learning curve when they start applying their knowledge while working on real productions. This course is here to bridge the gap between classroom and production. With this, we can tackle the skills gap and usher in the future generation of filmmakers who are experts in virtual production workflows.”
This course is here to bridge the gap between classroom and production. With this, we can tackle the skills gap and usher in the future generation of filmmakers who are experts in virtual production workflows
disguise chief executive Fernando Küfer
From LA to London
The New York City course is just the latest in several Virtual Production Accelerators across the globe. The first Accelerator course launched in LA, where disguise teamed up with ROE Visual to offer the course at ROE’s state-of-the-art LA headquarters. This stage is equipped with world-class LED panels, the ROE BP2, and a highly capable disguise ecosystem of VX4 and RXII that can power the most demanding content from Unreal Engine, 2.5D, and video plates. This stage is fully production capable and has hosted numerous real-world shows to utilize the technology.
The program expanded when disguise announced a partnership with XPLOR, resulting in the first UK Virtual Production Accelerator. This course is bolstered by XPLOR’s recently launched £7m+ Production Park facility in West Yorkshire — which boasts a 340 square meter virtual production volume and xR studio with ROE Visual LED screens.
At XPLOR, training is delivered by education providers Backstage Academy, specialists in live experience production, supporting the industry’s future through undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and short courses. Operating from Production Park, their facilities are just one of the 400+ state-of-the-art virtual production studios and global xR stages running on disguise solutions.
This partnership also has an R&D element that combines disguise’s advanced production technology and workflow-focused training with XPLOR’s world-class facility and large-scale design and prototyping spaces. Together, the pair investigate new features and capabilities that push the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual production.
In the future, disguise will announce planned courses outside the UK and the US, making the Accelerator program a truly worldwide endeavor and empowering future filmmakers from all corners of the earth.
Interested in expanding your virtual production skillset? Head to the disguise website for more information on the Virtual Production Accelerator courses.
