March 20, 2024, I am looking to see what my next move or project will be when I get an email saying my NYU application portal has an update. When I log in, I receive one of the greatest news I’ve ever received: I have been accepted into the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center. This is the start of my journey into virtual production, that would lead me to connect with other talented artists and filmmakers and to make over four short films in an LED Volume in just the first half of 2025.
I had always dreamed of moving to New York and attending NYU, and that dream seemed to have passed me by as I grew up. But when I saw the news that NYU Tisch School of the Arts was opening a new Virtual Production Center and launching a new program that goes in depth into this new technology, I had to apply. I put together what I believed was my best work and showed myself to them. I didn’t know if that would be enough to impress, but now I know it was enough for them to take a chance on me.
School started in early September 2024, where I met a group of talented people from diverse parts of the world that I now call my friends and partners. We started learning the basics of what Virtual Production is, learned what makes up a volume, and were divided into groups for our thesis films. I was partnered 5 other talented individuals, each with their own specialties which became their strengths in the project. My background as a filmmaker and cinematographer set me up to take on the Director of Photography role. All of a sudden, everything in my life was lining up.
The first semester was spent learning Unreal Engine 5 for virtual production, Maya, producing for virtual production, Perforce and Github, and creating a small short film. When I first started learning all of the technical knowledge, I barely understood it, and it seemed way out of my expertise, but when production for our films started, everything clicked. It not only made sense, but it gave me the know-how for properly directing and filming in these environments. The second semester was spent working and shooting my thesis film, as well as the thesis films of the other groups. I was an active participant in all of them, trying to maximize my time in the volume and practicing as much as I could. So many things went wrong in our productions, and being there to troubleshoot them with my classmates and the faculty was a golden opportunity to become proficient not only as a DP, but also as Virtual Production Supervisor, Technical Director, and Engine Operator.
The program also allowed me to intern at a couple of companies where I learned valuable skills for my career. I was able to intern at a rental company called Lux Lighting, where I not only learned a lot about lights, but also learned about DMX and CRMX control, which are crucial for Volume lighting operations. I also interned at GUM Studios, where I was able to produce a music video in their recently set up volume, for which I was able to create the nDisplay Config in Unreal Engine 5. The nDisplay is what Unreal Engine uses to project the 3D environment on the wall, and each nDisplay is tailored to the specific wall it is being used on. Knowing how to configure it is a unique and important skill.
Interestingly enough, part of the curriculum was learning how AI is shaping the current industry and not only how it is being applied, but learn to apply it ourselves. The school partnered with Runway to allow us to use their model in class and learn the emerging technologies in the creative industries, preparing us for the inevitable shift AI is bringing
My thesis film, NOMAD, is about a young nomad who travels through the desert in a world where time has stood still to a mysterious facility where she will need to use a videotape that can set time back in motion. The backdrop of the story required complex and interesting environments, which greatly benefited from virtual production and allowed us to showcase this technology. We have officially wrapped production, and as I am wrapping up the school year, we find ourselves deep in post-production, set on using the rest of the year to finish the film and show it to the world.
Looking back at the rollercoaster of a year that I’ve had, I can honestly say I am happy with where my life is going and feel substantially more ready to tackle complex projects in virtual production. I am ready for the future of this industry.
