New facility supports creative media enterprises with advanced capabilities and training programmes, empowering industry and developing future-ready talent

 

Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) today officially launched its BeyondReality Studio, setting a new benchmark for Singapore's virtual production capabilities with a first-of-its-kind immersive media production facility. Beyond developing a talent pipeline for immersive media technologies, the studio also empowers media enterprises and upskill creative media professionals through targeted training programmes and customised courses.

 

The studio features a unique 3-in-1 setup of motion capture, green screen, and LED volume virtual production under one roof, meeting Hollywood standards while being optimised for local industry needs.

 

Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, Mr Tan Kiat How, officiated the launch and delivered an opening speech, highlighting the significance of the BeyondReality Studio for the media industry and how it will contribute to development of the local media talent pipeline.

 

The BeyondReality Studio also expounds upon the Infocomm Media Development Authority's (IMDA) refreshed Skills Framework for Media, which places a strong emphasis on the integration of emerging technologies, such as Extended Reality (XR), Virtual Production (VP), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), into media production workflows. At the studio, learners would be equipped with the relevant skillsets identified in the Skills Framework, developing them into highly competent talents for the media industry.

 

At the launch, guests witnessed a live production showcase featuring a re-creation of Phoenix Ancient City¹ on the LED volume screen. The stunning virtual backdrop was produced by a team of four third-year students from NYP School of Design & Media’s (SDM) Diploma in Animation, Games & Visual Effects over a period of three months.

 

Mr Russell Chan, Principal and CEO of NYP, said: “At our BeyondReality Studio, creative media enterprises can leverage Hollywood-standard facilities for their productions, while working alongside our students who bring fresh ideas and perspectives. This hands-on industry experience also prepares our learners for the evolving media landscape, while ensuring that companies have a strong talent pipeline to bring virtual productions to greater heights,” he added.

 

Driving industry capability and innovation

Companies like Singapore-based Scrawl Animation and So Drama! Entertainment (SDE) are among the first to experience the Studio’s newest technologies.

 

Several episodes of Giganto Club, an international kids animation TV series licensed for reproduction by Scrawl, have involved NYP students and staff in its production. SDM students also worked with So Drama! Entertainment on a motion capture project to design and produce the 3D avatar, Mindy and the avatar girl group, SODA, which performed at the National Day Observance Ceremony in 2023.

 

Mr Seng Choon Meng, CEO of Scrawl Animation, said: “We are thrilled for the launch of the BeyondReality Studio and look forward to extending our collaboration with NYP. Motion capture for Giganto Club, a 3D animation series produced with our real-time workflow, was performed using the Vicon system in the studio.”

 

“With the support of NYP’s School of Design & Media staff and students, we successfully tested and optimised motion capture for animation, increasing productivity by at least 25 per cent and allowing us to complete three seasons at a faster rate,” he adds.

 

Susanna Kulatissa, Director of Creative and Content at So Drama! Entertainment, said: “By partnering on projects like Mindy and SODA, these collaborations have allowed us to enhance our professional capabilities in motion capture, supporting both SDE’s in-house projects and external ones. With built-in immersive media capabilities, the BeyondReality Studio will serve as a vital training ground for aspiring media professionals. We look forward to the exciting potential this studio holds for our future collaborations.”

 

On top of the BeyondReality Studio, NYP SDM is also one of three Unreal Academic Partners in Singapore recognised to deliver training in the Unreal Engine – a 3D creation software by Epic Games – that was used to develop popular games like Black Myth: Wukong and Fortnite.

 

The school is also one of four Unreal Authorised Training Centres in Singapore certified to provide specialised training for individuals seeking to improve their skills in using Unreal Engine for various applications, including video games, film and television, architecture, automotive design, simulation, and virtual production.

¹ Phoenix Ancient City is located in Hunan, China

Annex A: About the BeyondReality Studio

The BeyondReality Studio is a state-of-the-art 2,500-square-feet virtual production facility that features industry-grade technologies, including 24 professional motion capture cameras for high-precision full-body performance capture, a large curved green screen cyclorama for greater versatility and the illusion of depth, and an LED volume wall and floor for authentic replications of virtual environments.

 

Conceptualised as a one-stop playground for emerging immersive media technologies, the BeyondReality Studio offers opportunities to work with Extended Reality (XR), Virtual Production (VP), Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and Generative AI.

 

NYP is also the first polytechnic to receive the official certification of a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 Surround Audio Studio, ensuring that soundtracks produced within the studio can be accurately reproduced worldwide at the highest quality. When used in combination with the BeyondReality Studio, quality virtual productions can be created from start to finish within a single facility.

 

The facility's space-optimised design is specifically configured for mid-to-close shots, making it ideal for both local productions and training purposes. This thoughtful setup allows industry partners to explore innovative technologies and streamline production workflows while providing a conducive learning environment.    

   

The BeyondReality Studio advances Singapore’s creative media ecosystem through:

1. Enabling students and media enterprises access to advanced immersive reality capabilities to reproduce and film at any location in the world - real or fictitious. This opens up a wide range of possibilities for both learning and production, allowing for limitless creative potential without leaving the studio.
2. Allowing for diverse and dynamic production scenarios, such as snow and thunderstorms, with a LED volume wall and floor that is waterproof. Dynamic studio lighting also enhances the realism of virtual productions.

 

Short courses in the pipeline include ‘Creating New Realities with Virtual Production’, ‘Virtual Production (LED Volume)’ and ‘Understanding Virtual Production (Green Screen)’, and range from four days to six weeks.