Virtual Production Open Day for ScreenSkills Trainees 2025 - 2026 (Studio Day)

This full studio open day provides an introduction to the fundamentals of Virtual Production, covering its key principles, real-time workflows, and the technologies that bring virtual and physical filmmaking together.

Participants will gain insight into practical applications of VP tools and conclude with an interactive Q&A and wrap-up discussion. The Webinar will be lead by Target3D’s Studio Producer, Ryan Mercier and other Target 3D teams.

Morning Sessions (10:00 AM – 13:00 PM) 

• 10:00 –  Welcome & Introductions 
  Overview of the day and meet the team (both sites linked).
• Studio Tour 
  Explore LED volume, mocap, and camera tracking setups.
• Pre-Production in Virtual Production 
  See how environments and assets are built in real time.
• Introduction to Motion Capture 
  Demo showing mocap in a VP workflow.
• Applications of the LED Wall 
  Using LED volumes for lighting, backgrounds, and effects. 
• Art Direction & Environment Matching 
  How lighting and set dressing blend with virtual scenes.
• Camera Tracking 
  Understanding parallax, lens data, and real/virtual sync.
• Exercise Brief 
  Outline of the afternoon group activity and goals. 
   
  13:00 — Lunch Break

Afternoon Sessions (14:00PM – 17:00PM) 

• Group Exercise 
  Teams work on a short VP scene using LED wall, mocap, and tracking.
• Playback & Review 
  Groups present their work and share learnings.
• Q&A Session
• Open discussion on techniques, workflow, and applications.
• Wrap-Up 
  Closing remarks and networking.

This training is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions and by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions.

Who it's for

This Open Day is for ScreenSkills trainees currently on the Trainee Finder Programme. 

This training will follow on after the Virtual Production Open Day webinar on December 4th 2025.

These studios days will be delivered in person at the Advanced Media Production Studios at PROTO, Gateshead and East London in partnership with Target3D and Digital Catapult.

You can apply for a bursary for travel here.

What it covers

• Welcome & Introduction 
  Overview of the session goals and a look at the evolution of Virtual Production.
• Principles of Virtual Production 
  Introduction to the core concepts — real-time rendering, in-camera VFX, and key benefits of using VP in filmmaking.
• VP Workflow in Filmmaking 
  Walkthrough of the Virtual Production pipeline, from previsualization and virtual scouting to capturing final pixels on set.
• Hardware & Solutions in Virtual Production 
  Overview of essential tools and technologies — LED walls, motion tracking, camera synchronisation, and software ecosystems.
• Q&A and Wrap-Up 
  Audience questions, key takeaways, and closing remarks.

Ryan Mercier: Producer and Performance Consultant

With a dynamic career spanning over 18 years in acting and filmmaking, Ryan Mercier is a distinguished professional in the field of motion capture and virtual production. Currently, he serves as a Studio Producer at Target3D, where he specialises in Virtual Production and Performance Capture. 
 
Josh Prasser: Realtime Supervisor  

Josh Prasser, a highly skilled professional in the realm of computer games and real-time technology.  
Currently, Josh holds the roles of Realtime Supervisor and Studio Technical Director. In these capacities, he ensures the seamless integration of real-time technologies and supervises complex studio operations, driving innovation and excellence in every project. 

How to apply

Click 'Get Ticket' to claim your ticket for EITHER the North of England Studio in Gateshead OR the South of England Studio in London.

If you have any further reasonable adjustments for your training regarding access, please contact our team member Rebecca by emailing here. 

You can apply for a bursary for travel here.

 

Contact information

Name: Ryan Mercier
Email: ryan.m@target3d.co.uk