IMDA will fund $5 million to support Singapore’s media industry to adopt virtual production

Virtual production technology uses LED screens to display realistic background environments for television or movie scenes powered by video game engine so that the camera is able to capture actors and visual effects in real-time. This technology presents a unique opportunity for Singapore to overcome our physical limitations such as limited sites for on-location shooting and space to build extensive sets. Also, this will transform the creative process of storytelling as our storytellers can recreate locations from the past or any imaginable environment, allowing us to produce content that we were not able to before. There is also strong signal from global media players that virtual production technology will be widely used in film and television production and will become the industry norm in the coming years, which adds impetus for media industry to adopt virtual production.

To train media professionals to use this technology, IMDA has partnered the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom to tailor the school’s Certificate in Virtual Production course to meet our industry’s needs. Fifteen Singapore media lecturers, trainers and industry professionals will receive hands-on training at NFTS’s virtual production facilities as well as attend lectures conducted virtually from December 2022 to April 2023.

A series of industry-led masterclasses and workshops, conducted by international virtual production experts, will be rolled out over the next twelve months. We will also support local companies to experiment with virtual production to realise their creative vision for short-form1 content, such as music videos, short films, brand commercials, amongst others. From now until 15 February 2023, companies can submit their proposed content concepts at go.gov.sg/vpinnovationcall. 

Proposals will be evaluated based on their creative appeal and ability to best use virtual production technology to bring their project’s creative vision to fruition. IMDA will fund up to 50 per cent of the project’s cost for selected proposals. By supporting these projects, the local industry will deepen their understanding on how virtual production can help them lift their creativity to the next level and produce even more interesting content.

In addition, IMDA is collaborating with Epic Games, creator of the advanced real-time 3D creation tool, Unreal Engine, which powers games like Fortnite, to run an industry challenge. Teams with shortlisted projects will receive direct mentorship and training from Epic, while also receiving prize money from IMDA to support content production.

‘The development of virtual production technology in recent years now allows us to create visual effects in real-time without physical set production and with that, overcome the limitations of space, scale and complexity. The impossible can be made ‘possible’, limited only by the imagination of our filmmakers. We are excited to see more innovative and compelling stories resulting from the use of virtual production to strengthen Singapore’s position as a hub for content and IP creation’, said Justin Ang, Assistant Chief Executive, Media, Innovation, Communications and Marketing of IMDA.