Students from the BA(Hons) Film & TV Production, BA (Hons) Production Design for Stage & Screen and BA (Hons) Model Making & Visual FX programmes had the fantastic opportunity to visit facilities at PROTO in Gateshead. Providing access to previously unattainable leading-edge facilities and expertise. PROTO is a space to support educators, practitioners and innovators to define the future of art and entertainment.

Students got the chance to meet professionals that work with virtual production and motion capture in the industry, and had a bespoke exploration session using PROTO’s scanning, camera and tracking systems. “They were so laid back and so knowledgeable it has really made me feel much more at ease and inclined to explore further into this newfound interest! All the demonstrations were great, it felt like a really exciting insight to how these processes and jobs work” said level 4 model maker Molly Avery.

Fellow student Luke Brandrick commented, “The impact of seeing technological developments in person really allows us to see where the film industry is and how we, as creatives, will fit into it.” During the visit Film students used the experience to shoot footage for their upcoming fictional short ‘Broken Mirror’, written and directed by James Withycombe and Produced by Meg Boyle.

Stu Drummond, Head of our Stage and Screen faculty, commented on the importance of PROTO, stating “As a future facing faculty, we need to be switched on to the growing industry in the North East and PROTO have been at the heart of this, attracting projects to the region, supporting homegrown talent and getting new workforces prepared for an ever-changing landscape”.

Christy Robinson, a level 6 Production Designer, echoed that she “found this event really encouraging to stay and continue working in the North East after graduation. Proto were very enthusiastic about students coming back to complete work experience.”

She continued “The whole day was really engaging and informative about virtual production (VP). We were shown multiple ways in which VP can be used across various budgets. Being introduced to the many different job roles in virtual production was very interesting and eye-opening. Seeing motion capture technology work in real time was very exciting. The company was very encouraging of work experience and further work and the trip offered me new opportunities to meet students from other courses who shared similar interests.”

Our Stage and Screen degree programmes offer creative students an industry focused pathway into the industry. Working with multiple partners to secure vital opportunities and develop skills. Find out more here.