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Building the Future Together: Collaboration in Virtual Production
Virtual production, a process that blends real-time digital environments with live-action filming, has grown from a niche technique—think The Mandalorian’s LED wall sets—into a collaborative effort reshaping media creation.
The Cutting-Edge Virtual Production at the Edges of The European Union project, coordinated by Turku University of Applied Sciences in Finland, connects a range of contributors, from Ireland’s Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) and BCFE Ballyfermot College of Further Education to Portugal’s Lusófona University and FX Roadlights, Malta’s L-Università ta’ Malta and Studio Seven and Poland’s Łódź Film School. The network also includes Ireland’s Noho and the FilmEU Association. This network underscores how progress depends on people working together across borders and disciplines.
At IADT, John Buckley, expert in 3D modeling and VFX, sees virtual production as a way to connect departments. “This has been an invaluable experience for both students and staff,” he says of their pandemic-era shift to real-time visualization. Tony Costa from Lusófona University agrees, noting that blending virtual and traditional methods requires “mentors, experts, and people eager to build careers here.” Buckley adds that success hinges on “curiosity and a willingness to collaborate across all facets of film and television,” from cinematography to set design, a view shared by Niall Ó hOisín of Noho, whose XR projects like the Virtual Record Treasury merge film, tech, and gaming expertise.
Spreading Knowledge Beyond Borders
Veerle Van der Sluys, FilmEU’s Executive Director and an educator at LUCA School of Arts in Belgium, focuses on communication rather than the technology itself. With a background in physics and software development, she ensures the project’s findings reach a wider audience through websites and social media. “It’s crucial that the people involved in Cutting Edges create a shared understanding of the techniques and artistic processes,” she explains. Her role ties the eight-university FilmEU alliance to broader communities.
Partnering for Practical Solutions
Collaboration extends beyond schools. Manuel Ciantar, who leads Studioseven’s Audiovisual Academy in Malta, draws on over 20 years in media production. His team’s “as live” method—planning events for smooth execution—depends on partnerships. “Cutting Edges brings us valuable contacts and opportunities to share knowledge,” he notes, highlighting the project’s push for local and global connections. Bruno Nunes of Portugal’s FX Roadlights, a video production lead, agrees on the need for coordination. “Communication and synchronization between all systems and parties are critical,” he says, managing lighting, cameras, and virtual setups.
At Turku UAS Arts Academy, Marko Luukkonen, a senior lecturer and a film-making specialist, stresses the value of working together. “National and international cooperation is really important,” he says, pointing to new Unreal Engine courses developed with game design and animation colleagues. Tony Costa, the head of the cinematography department at Lusófona University, calls for blending virtual and traditional methods. “To get the most out of this technology, we need mentors, experts, and people eager to build careers here,” he suggests.
Uniting Creativity and Technology
Niall Ó hOisín, CEO and creative director at NoHo Limited, uses XR to recreate historical sites like the Virtual Record Treasury. “Collaboration is key to achieving a successful outcome,” he says, merging film, tech, and gaming skills. In Łódź Film School, Senior Lecturer Arthur Reinhart involves students in projects with industry. He notes that studios see “current professionals recognize students as future talent,” benefiting both sides. NoHo Limited’s emphasis on pre-visualization and storyboarding also shows how teamwork aligns everyone with the director’s goals.
The Cutting Edges project depends on people working together. Buckley sums it up: progress requires “curiosity and a willingness to collaborate across all facets of film and television.”
