CJP Broadcast delivers virtual production and motion capture facilities for the University for the Creative Arts

CJP Broadcast Service Solutions has recently provided comprehensive virtual production and motion capture facilities for the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).

The new installation was designed to transform an existing large studio at UCA’s Farnham campus into a space that would allow students to access professional tools and explore their creativity. The turnkey project included an LED volume and a motion capture stage, featuring INFiLED panels, Brompton processors, and Kino Flo lights. The studio is completely flexible and can be used as a virtual studio, for motion capture, and as a conventional studio.

This case study showcases CJP’s ability to deliver advanced facilities for education users that provide broadcast quality facilities and workflows, and highlights the future opportunities available to UCA students in the global creative industries. 

The Challenge  

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) required a comprehensive virtual studio setup that could be used for games and film production. CJP Broadcast Service Solutions was tasked with transforming an existing large studio at UCA’s Farnham campus into a space that would allow students to have access to professional tools and give full rein to their creativity. 

The Solution  

Working in conjunction with ATG Danmon, CJP supplied UCA with a comprehensive virtual studio setup that included an LED volume and a motion capture stage. The LED volume consists of a curved wall, 8m x 3m, and a ceiling panel of 4.5m x 2m, using INFiLED panels driven by Brompton processors. CJP also provided bespoke curved lighting bars to match the shape of the wall, ensuring that real elements of virtual productions are best-lit. 

The studio uses an existing Blackmagic camera fitted with the Mo-Sys StarTracker system to ensure precise location in three-dimensional space. The Mo-Sys VP Pro XR software, incorporating the Unreal graphics engine, provides the real-time virtual output to the volume. CJP implemented a 20-camera Vicon motion capture installation, ideally suited for character animation in games, using an existing green screen at the other end of the studio. 

The studio was fitted out with Kino Flo hard and soft lights as part of the turnkey CJP project. The space is completely flexible and can be used as a virtual studio, for motion capture, and as a conventional studio.  

The Future  

The new installation provides UCA students with access to the very best in professional tools, allowing them to explore their creativity and prepare for their future careers in the global creative industries. CJP’s expertise in delivering advanced facilities for corporate and education users provides students with broadcast quality facilities and workflows. The focus on games creation and motion capture facilities for realistic character animation showcases what can be achieved for corporate and educational users. The installation is a remarkable resource that provides an exciting future for UCA students.  

Professor Simon Macklin, Deputy Vice Chancellor at UCA said: “With this new installation our games and film production students have access to the very best in professional tools, so they can give full rein to their creativity and be ready to move into the global creative industries. CJP took us through every aspect of this project, showing us how we could use the same facilities the best professionals use. They supplied, installed and trained us on it all, and their continuing support is valued by us hugely.”  

Christopher Phillips, Managing Director of CJP Broadcast Service Solutions said: “We now have a huge amount of experience in delivering advanced facilities for corporate and education users, so they can benefit from broadcast quality facilities and workflows. The exciting part of the UCA installation was their focus on games creation, hence the motion capture facilities for realistic character animation. 

“What we also ensured was that the studio space is completely flexible, so it can be used as a virtual studio including realtime set extensions, for motion capture, and of course as a conventional studio. This is a remarkable resource, which showcases what can be achieved for corporate and educational users.”