To help address a yawning skills gap, the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is to offer virtual production technology training to students using a £1.9 million capital grant from the Office for Students, England’s independent regulator for higher education. It’s a first for a drama school in the UK. Training will be centred around a new state-of-the-art studio featuring virtual production and motion capture technology
“I don’t know any other drama school that is thinking about virtual production in the way that LAMDA is. This is a hugely creative endeavour, and shows real forward thinking ambition. By making unaffordable technology accessible, they will open up the playing field to new storytellers”
Joe Russo, film director
What courses will be on offer?
- a new FdA (Foundation Degree in Education) course in Creative Virtual Production Management
- an MA (Master of Arts) course in Production Management for Screen, Audio & Virtual Production
- academic credit-earning evening courses in specialised digital skills which could eventually lead to a degree
- a number of CPD (continuous professional development) courses in these emerging technologies
Principal and chief executive of LAMDA Professor Mark O’Thomas said: “This is a substantial investment into LAMDA’s screen skills component and future-proofs the learning environment for changing industry needs. It ensures our students emerge from training being ‘set ready’ in a range of technologies, and technicians enter the work arena with the right skills, knowledge, and experience to meet future demand”.
LAMDA will also make its technology available for film makers to rent.
Source: IBC 365