Could you start by giving me your name, job title, and where you work, please?
My name is Rory Curley. I’m the CEO of Central Film School.

Could you talk me through the piece of work you commissioned with Target3D?
I might give you a long answer for a short question. It was really an evolution—the relationship grew as we became more comfortable over time!

 

Back in the summer of 2022, Central Film School submitted a capital bid application to the Office for Students. This program is run by the regulator for higher education. We’re a conservatory-style institution focused on narrative filmmaking. Filmmaking is both a creative art and a STEAM discipline, sitting within STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

 

The bid was for capital funding over three years. We were ambitious and submitted an objectives-led bid, emphasising that we are a narrative-focused organization. Our tagline is, “We’ll tell your story.” However, we lacked the tools and technology for new media storytelling. Our students needed access to the equipment required for modern visual narratives.

We’re a small organisation with about 20 full-time staff and annual revenue of £2.5 million. Despite our size, we bid for nearly £1 million. After conducting research, I identified virtual production as a transformative technology. Competitors were already integrating tools like motion capture, particularly as we prepared to launch an acting program.

We were also moving to a new facility with expanded studio spaces, so I knew we’d need extensive lighting and other tools. The bid was detailed for the first year, but the later years were more about broad objectives. Initially, I worked with a different technical partner to develop the bid. When we won the funding, it became clear that partner wasn’t the right fit for implementation. I needed a partner I could trust—one that wasn’t just selling the most expensive options but would guide us to achieve our objectives. My husband, who works in experiential marketing, met someone from Target3D at an industry fair. He passed along their card, and that’s how we connected.

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I told them our objectives: we wanted motion capture installed, extensive studio lighting, and a virtual production stage within a year and a half. Target3D broke the project into three phases, collaborating with us every step of the way. The partnership worked well because it was iterative—as we refined our goals, they adapted their approach.

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Target3D also emphasised transparency. During negotiations, they suggested solutions that balanced our budget constraints with our objectives, ensuring we received maximum value.

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What were your feelings when you first received funding? Were you excited, nervous, or both?
The main feeling was excitement—this was a once-in-a-decade opportunity for the school. But I also felt a deep responsibility to ensure the funds were spent wisely for the students. It was a trust issue. I needed a partner who would help maximise our investment and not just sell us the priciest solutions.

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How did the initial meetings with Target3D go? Did you feel confident from the start?
Yes, the account managers were transparent and direct. They had case studies, including work with Rose Bruford College, another arts education institution. That reassured me because they understood both the education sector and the technology requirements for our students.

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Were you satisfied with the solutions and outputs?

Absolutely. The process was phased and iterative. We collaborated on adjustments to ensure the solutions met our needs. The transparency and responsiveness were excellent. We just completed the most complex part of the installation—the virtual production setup—and the post-installation support has been fantastic.

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How did Target3D handle post-installation challenges?
The support was fantastic. Inevitably with complex technology, there were a few snags, but Target3D responded immediately. They came out to fix issues, made small adjustments where necessary, and ensured everything was running perfectly. We also had several training sessions with their team to get everyone up to speed, which was incredibly helpful. Their commitment to post-installation support really made a difference.

Can you sum up your experience with Target3D in three words?
Trusting, collaborative, creative.

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