Virtual Production Institute
The commercial opens with a space scene filmed at the Virtual Production Institute's stage at Backlot Studios in Fort Worth.
Innovation has been a consistent theme throughout Tim McLaughlin’s career, both in higher education and the visual effects industry. The Longview native’s degrees at Texas A&M University helped to take him to Industrial Light & Magic, where he played a major role in how digital creatures look and move in films including “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace,” “Mars Attacks!” and “Jumanji,” along with a prototype project for “Avatar.”
Texas A&M University has been named one of Fast Company magazine’s Most Innovative Companies for 2025, joining business icons including Nvidia, YouTube and EA Sports.
The Virtual Production Institute at Texas A&M University was honored by the Advanced Imaging Society on Friday for advancement of virtual production education.
The inaugural class in virtual production in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts featured a classic fairy tale re-created in an immersive world. Virtual production incorporates large LED walls that display computer-generated virtual environments. These digital environments are created using real-time game engines. The Virtual Production Institute, funded as a special item by the 88th Texas Legislature, was created in 2024 as part of the college, and a Virtual Production minor began in the fall semester.
The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M University has selected Sony Electronics Inc. and its state-of-the-art equipment and technology for the emerging Virtual Production Institute.
Visualization students recently premiered short films about triumph, discovery and enchantment using virtual production techniques at the Black Box Theater in the Liberal Arts and Arts and Humanities Building.
Visualization students took a deep dive into virtual production during the annual Summer Industry Course.
August 19 marks not just the first day of the fall semester for the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, but also the college’s first day of classes in Fort Worth.
The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M University will partner with Synapse Virtual Production to build four virtual production stages as part of its emerging Virtual Production Institute.