The Virtual Production Test Stage has been created by Target3D and Digital Catapult with funding from Innovate UK.
Designed to enable hands-on experimentation, training and skills development to address gaps that exist today in the creative industry. It is the world’s first fully functioning virtual production research facility to anchor the UK’s leading experts.
Proud to be an open access 5G-enabled testbed and demonstrator for the media production sector and creative industries.
What is Virtual Production?
Virtual production is an emerging method that uses a combination of technologies ranging from the use of LED screens, real-time game engines, AI, 5G, cloud rendering and edge computing to combine live-action footage and computer graphics in real-time.
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Founded by Digital Catapult and powered by Target3D, the Test Stage @ Target3D is an initiative to develop a repository of skills, technologies and solutions for Industry UK to leverage the myriad of facets that can fall under the banner of Virtual Production (VP).
As an unbiased, experimental space located in Guildford, Surrey, the brand-new 30sqm Virtual Production Test Stage features:
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Leyard Carbon Light LED 2.6mm Pixel Pitch
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12K URSA Blackmagic Digital Camera package
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Unreal Engine Render Machines
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Audio and Visual Broadcast Control Equipment and Desks
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Studio and Moving Lights
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Disguise Server Setup
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OptiTrack Camera Tracking Technology
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OptiTrack Full body Motion Capture
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NCAM Camera Tracking Technology
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Vanishing Point Virtual Production Systems
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Mechanical Lens Encoding
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3 Phase Powered
Welcome to the Virtual Production Test Stage
The Virtual Production Test Stage enables hands-on experimentation, training and skills development to address gaps that exist today in the creative industry. It is the world’s first fully functioning virtual production research facility to anchor the UK’s leading experts.
Target3D and Digital Catapult’s aim was to establish the world’s first research and innovation studio for virtual production, offering advanced digital technology and design capabilities, and develop open standards and applications for new entrants and incumbents.
The main beneficiaries of this fast start facility will be independent production companies that cannot access larger commercial facilities and early-stage innovation companies that will develop new tools and applications. Running full-scale productions alongside R&D programmes will ensure industry relevance to the products and services being developed. In time, it is hoped that we will develop a larger facility associated with a commercial studio and connect to other facilities around the country, ultimately to take this work to scale under the banner of StudioUK.
The StudioUK programme is made up of a group of 30 leading global media production companies, special effects companies and universities and is facilitated by Digital Catapult. The Chair of its Advisory Group is Sir Peter Bazalgette. It currently convenes two industry working groups centred around Skills and R&D, each identifying and prioritising areas of focus to bring opportunity to the UK.
Target3D and Digital Catapult's new fast start 5G-connected virtual production facility will extend the computational and networking base of our existing Future Networks 5G testbeds (including SONIC, the SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre) and aligned activities such as the 5G Festival. The cross tech focus of the Virtual Production Test Stage constitutes a significant step towards the development of full-scale national capability for virtual production.
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This is particularly timely and significant in light of the current impact of Covid-19 and its knock-on effects on the media and creative industry. The new facility will help support the development of resilient production supply chains and grow capabilities for innovative interventions in the UK media ecosystem.
The Virtual Production Test Stage is operational and available for bookings.
To find out more about the virtual production facility and how to get involved, please register sign up now.
