{"id":23219,"date":"2024-11-18T18:05:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T00:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pvfa.tamu.edu\/?p=23219"},"modified":"2024-11-18T18:07:20","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T00:07:20","slug":"sony-electronics-selected-to-provide-equipment-and-technology-for-virtual-production-institute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pvfa.tamu.edu\/news\/2024\/11\/18\/sony-electronics-selected-to-provide-equipment-and-technology-for-virtual-production-institute\/","title":{"rendered":"Sony Electronics Selected To Provide Equipment And Technology For Virtual Production Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts<\/a> at Texas A&M University has selected Sony Electronics<\/a> Inc. and its state-of-the-art equipment and technology for the emerging Virtual Production Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With its innovative Crystal LED panels, BURANO and VENICE 2 digital cinema cameras and professional monitors, Sony offers opportunities for students and industry partners to utilize cutting-edge technology, said Tim McLaughlin<\/a>, dean of the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur partnership with Sony provides the immediate benefit of the top-quality LED panels and cameras for our virtual production volumes,\u201d he said, \u201cplus the capacity to address the scope of the college\u2019s long-term goals through its range of different tools and technologies for imaging, audio and internet-connected devices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The institute will leverage the latest technology from Sony\u2019s virtual production ecosystem along with its unique software \u2014 the Virtual Production Tool Set \u2014 which allows hardware to work together for improved performance and workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExposing students to our latest technology through Texas A&M\u2019s Virtual Production Institute will ensure future generations in the virtual production industry are trained and proficient in the technologies of tomorrow,\u201d said Theresa Alesso, president of Imaging Products and Solutions Americas, Sony Electronics. \u201cOur technologies will help the institute stand apart and create new forms of engagement and immersion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Virtual Production Institute is based on Texas A&M\u2019s main campus in Bryan-College Station with an extension at Texas A&M-Fort Worth<\/a>. With funding support from the 88th Texas Legislature<\/a> for faculty, staff and equipment, the institute will reach beyond entertainment and into workforce training and simulation for first responders, health care, the military, manufacturing, product and architectural design, digital twin environments and live performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students will have access to four virtual production stages composed of large LED walls that display computer-generated imagery to create immersive worlds where subjects can see and react to what is happening around them. Real-time game engines process photorealistic imagery and live-action scenes to create in-camera visual effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two of the virtual production stages will be in Fort Worth and two in Bryan-College Station. A temporary wall was recently installed in the Starlab facility at the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus in Bryan for course instruction in the Visualization program\u2019s new minor in virtual production<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Synapse Virtual Production<\/a> was announced in August<\/a> as the integrator for the institute. The Los Angeles-based company is designing, procuring and building the four stages, along with providing curriculum assistance and training faculty and staff on using the technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The institute will employ Sony technology including the BURANO and VENICE 2 digital cinema cameras, and the latest generation VERONA Crystal LED, a modular display ideally suited to demanding virtual production applications. The VERONA offers extraordinary black levels, low reflection, high brightness, wide color gamut and high refresh rate, which allow content creators to compose immersive and realistic visual experiences on any scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Parrish<\/a>, director of the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M-Fort Worth, first took note of this quality in 2023 at a Sony launch event in Culver City, California. The Sony panels \u201cimmediately stood out to me as a step above,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe LED panels are impressive in their display capabilities, their range, their contrast ratio, the resolution capacity \u2014 the technical aspects of these are top notch,\u201d he said. \u201cThe reproduction of the scenes on these panels is incredibly vibrant and lifelike. This offers an opportunity for our students to operate at a quality level and technology level that otherwise would be difficult to access.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sony technology will be featured in a Fort Worth event Nov. 22 for university, industry and community stakeholders. \u201cArts in Motion\u201d at the Omni Hotel includes collaboration discussions among the college\u2019s performance and visualization industry partners. Guest speakers include John Goff,<\/a> investor and chairman of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Innovation Partnership; Robert Ahdieh<\/a>, dean of the Texas A&M School of Law; and keynote speaker Christine Kuan<\/a>, president and executive director of Creative Capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event will close with a virtual production demonstration on a Sony Crystal LED wall at Red Productions<\/a>\u2019 Backlot Studios. As part of the institute, a permanent virtual production stage is expected to be complete in that space in January. SISU Cinema Robotics<\/a> is providing a robotic camera arm for the demonstration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re spreading our footprint,\u201d said Wayne Miller<\/a>, special adviser to the dean in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, noting that Visualization program courses have begun and will continue to grow at Texas A&M-Fort Worth. \u201cI think it\u2019s important for people to know that. And we\u2019re part of Fort Worth\u2019s expansion as well. We\u2019re going to have state-of-the-art facilities in both Fort Worth and in Bryan-College Station.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n‘Arts In Motion’ Event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n