DAVE School Adds Virtual Production Program to Diploma Curriculum

DAVE School continues to stay ahead of new developments in technology and industry trends with the addition of its newest Virtual Production Diploma program. This program gives students a broad range of skills from both the Visual Effects and Gaming arenas and will allow them to pursue jobs in the “real-time” frontier of the 3D computer graphics industry. Industry possibilities include Feature film and broadcast, game art, architectural visualization, virtual reality, and simulation.

This 18-month, 90 credit hours’ diploma meets the growing industry demand for 3D artists with this new filmmaking model that includes a mix of computer-generated and live-action methodologies. The first 48 weeks of the program are taught live online followed by a 24-week Studio Residency at DAVE School’s campus located in Orlando, FL.

What is Virtual Production?

It is when live-action footage is combined with computer graphics across multiple locations and delivers feedback across digital or physical environments simultaneously. Visual effects can be created in pre-production as well as post-production with virtual production. Virtual production can help save time and money during the production process, and trial and error can be done to find the best iteration of the project. Virtual production also allows everyone to state on the same page throughout the production process, a film set can transition in seconds rather than hours, there is a large library of assets, and anyone can collaborate around the globe bringing down all barriers to collaborate.

Virtual Production Program Competencies:

  • Develop the professional and technical skills needed to model, UV, texture, animate, light, and render industry-standard 3D digital geometry used to integrate into professional motion picture visual effects, game and real-time, immersive, virtual production technologies using state of the art and industry-standard hardware and software.
  • Exhibit the principles of motion picture VFX and real-time immersive virtual production pipelines by utilizing various computer hardware, software technology to problem solve, plan and create production-ready assets and deliverables.
  • Apply effective communication, oral, written, and non-verbal skills that are appropriate in the professional context of the motion picture and game/immersive technologies field when working with clients and communicating with other professionals.
  • Demonstrate the ability to logically direct the modeling, UVing, texturing, animating, lighting, and rendering of industry-standard 3D digital geometry and environments for use in professional motion picture visual effects, game, and real-time immersive virtual production pipelines.
  • One of the main virtual production program software tools is the Unreal Engine, the most powerful creation engine available. Unreal Engine is one of the most open and advanced real-time 3D creation tools for virtual production.
  • Employ strategies for production management to meet professional virtual production pipeline deliverable requirements and specifications, milestones, and delivery deadlines.

Program Breakdown:

Course Number

DAVE 110

DAVE 210

VFX 310

GAME 310

VFX 405

GAME 405

Course Name

Fundamentals of Asset Creation & 3D Design

3D Animation: The Art of Motion

Compositing & VFX: Principles of Integration

Game Asset Creation & Immersive Techniques

Advanced VFX Pipelines & Studio Production

Real-Time Technologies & Studio Production

Credit Hours

15

15

15

15

15

15

To learn more about our Virtual Production program, visit our School Catalog or call us today and speak to one of our Admissions Representatives.

About The DAVE School

The DAVE School was founded on June 8, 2000, by two Industry executives looking to create #CareerReady artists with a practical animation school. Today, The DAVE School offers specialized training in Visual Effects and Game Production with extensive practice under industry-level supervision.

Located on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida®, The DAVE School has an 18,000 square foot facility that includes learning and interactive labs, a dedicated Virtual and Real-Time production stage, a Vicon motion capture system, 3D printing, and VR/AR labs and secure student access 7 days a week.

NUC University (NUC) is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) www.msche.org. NUC’s NUC University – IBC Technical Division (NUC-IBC), NUC University – Florida Technical College (NUC-FTC), and The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School) is included in this accreditation. NUC’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on 2019 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)