Virtual Production Solution for Norwich University of the Arts

Norwich University of the Arts is a leading creative institution in East Anglia. Committed to equipping students with industry-relevant skills, they sought to create a facility where students could learn professional production technologies and practices from the start of their studies. To accomplish this, the university contacted Target3D, leaders in virtual production and motion capture solutions.

The Brief

Norwich University of the Arts required a virtual production studio to deliver a teaching environment where students could experiment with real-world production workflows, gain hands-on experience, and potentially collaborate on live projects with professional production companies in the region. 

The studio needed to be flexible enough to support multiple courses, including film, moving image, AVFX and spatial computing, while allowing room for future R&D. 

The Solution

In consultation with Technical Services Manager for Production, Frances Wall, Target3D designed and delivered a comprehensive virtual production studio tailored to the university’s needs, situated in the rear third of their Havers Road building.

Frances recalled, 

“We started having conversations with the team at Target[3D] about the - early on, just the OptiTrack component of it, but it became clear through those conversations that Target did a lot more than just the tracking side, and that perhaps we were going to be able to do a lot more than that working together.”

The studio was fitted with a full LED volume using Verona screens, comprising 160 panels arranged 20 wide by 8 high, complete with Brompton SX40 processors to manage wall resolution and connectivity. 

The lighting grid combines ceiling and wall rigs, Aperture 1000c Fresnel fixtures, and Arri L7-C Plus lights, giving students full control over cinematic lighting conditions. Compute and real-time rendering are powered by Disguise RX III, paired with RenderStream licenses, ensuring Unreal Engine workflows run smoothly for immersive virtual production. 

The facility also incorporates spatialised sound and high-resolution visuals to create truly immersive environments.

To capture motion, the studio features OptiTrack PrimeX 22 cameras, eSync 2 synchronization, Cinepuck peripherals and full calibration kits, allowing precise real-time motion tracking for students’ projects. 

Professional camera equipment includes a CineAlta 6K Full Frame camera, Venice Full Frame licenses, a range of CP.3 lenses, and Ronford Baker fluid heads. Supporting equipment for rigging, power distribution, and monitoring ensures a fully operational, industry-standard environment. 

Audio and sound capture is supported with Sennheiser wireless lavalier sets, Sound Devices MixPre-6 II preamps, and professional monitoring headphones, completing the full production ecosystem. The installation ensures that students can experience the full spectrum of virtual production workflows in a professional-quality environment.

The Result

Now fully operational, the virtual production studio serves as a creative hub where students attend workshops and practical classes, gaining hands-on experience in virtual production, AVFX and moving image projects. 

Its proximity to the East Anglian media industry will allow production companies to use the space for shoots, offering students real-world experience and the opportunity to earn credits on professional projects. With LED volumes, advanced lighting, motion capture, cameras and compute all integrated, students are learning on the same equipment used in professional film and TV production, preparing them for industry careers from the outset. 

Feedback

Toby Hills, Senior Technician for Immersive and Virtual Production, reflected:

“The teaching of such a modern, new thing that’s creeping into the industry — teaching it from year one — is really good for students. Having them present and crewing it in junior roles means they can leave university with credits on actual productions.”

Target3D has delivered virtual production to facilities all across the United Kingdom. Let us handle everything from design and installation to training and support. Speak to our sales team today: sales@target3d.co.uk or give us a call on (+44) 0203 488 2575.