The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) has announced plans to invest in a new virtual production studio after receiving almost £2 million in funding from the Department of Education.
LAMDA said it hopes to open the new studio by the end of 2023.
The organisation also plans to use part of the funding to update its audio suite, and replace halogen lights with environmentally-friendly LEDs as part of its overall shift to include sustainability.
Principal and chief executive of LAMDA, Professor Mark O’Thomas said: “This is a substantial investment into LAMDA’s screen skills component and future-proofs the learning environment for changing industry needs. It ensures our students emerge from training being ‘set ready’ in a range of technologies, and technicians enter the work arena with the right skills, knowledge, and experience to meet future demand.
“We plan to use the funds for film, TV and storytelling and provide education all round from preparing actors to act in a VP setting as well as the technical aspects for virtual production management,” added O’Thomas. “Virtual production and mocap are becoming more and more widely used by TV and film studios which is also advancing at such a pace that skilled employees are difficult to recruit.
“The capital grants allow LAMDA to provide students with niche, relevant and up-to-date skills that even most industry professionals would not have. It exposes students to the latest screen technology while addressing the growing skills gap in the screen and film industry. We can also upskill professionals who are already in the industry.”
