Screen Scotland has opened a new opportunity for film and television practitioners to experiment with virtual production and motion capture technology at FirstStage Studios in Leith. The programme will run six separate experimental “sandboxes”, giving selected teams six days of access to the studio alongside technical support. The sessions will be divided into three flexible two-day blocks, allowing teams time between visits to reflect on what they have learned, develop their ideas and return to test them further.

Importantly, applicants do not need previous experience with virtual production technology. Screen Scotland is looking for people working in the creative industries who have experience in narrative production and a question, idea or creative challenge they would like to explore.

What Is Available at FirstStage Studios?

The 9,000-square-foot sandbox space includes a 5 × 3 metre LED screen for exploring in-camera visual effects, 3D set extensions and virtual performance, alongside a dedicated 6 × 6 metre motion capture area using a Vicon system.

Participants will also be able to experiment with Unreal Engine, real-time rendering, camera workflows, performance capture and other digital production techniques, with support from the Edinburgh College of Art team as part of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab.

The programme is deliberately designed around experimentation rather than producing a finished project. Applicants can arrive with a broad creative question or something more specific they want to test using the available technology.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is open to creative-industry professionals with experience working in narrative production. Applicants do not need to have worked with virtual production or motion capture before and can apply with an existing team or ask for support in forming one.

Applications should explain what the applicant wants to investigate, their own role and experience, who they would like to work with and the skills or knowledge they could bring to the sandbox.

Participation is free, with the programme supported by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland alongside Edinburgh College of Art, CoSTAR and FirstStage Studios.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted to costar@firststagestudios.com.

For CultureCues, this feels like a great opportunity for Scottish film and television creatives who are interested in virtual production but have never had the chance to actually get hands-on with the technology. The fact that applicants do not need a finished project or previous virtual-production experience makes it much more accessible too. If this is an area you have been wanting to explore, this is definitely one worth checking out.

For full details and information on how to apply, visit the Screen Scotland website here.