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Updated: Aug 8

Educating Future Filmmakers: Swinburne University Workshop

In July, Dreamscreen hosted students and academics from Swinburne University's Diploma of Screen and Media.

Curly-haired person in a jacket stands in a dimly lit space with blue and purple lighting, appearing contemplative. Silhouette in background.
Swinburne students on set with a purpose built Unreal Engine environment

Dreamscreen had the pleasure of hosting students from Swinburne University of Technology’s Diploma of Screen and Media program for an immersive virtual production workshop. Across the day, the students were introduced to the tools, workflows and creative possibilities that are shaping the future of filmmaking.


A person onstage presents to a seated audience in a dimly-lit theater. Screens display colorful images, creating an engaging atmosphere.

The workshop kicked off with an overview of virtual production, covering core concepts like in-camera visual effects (ICVFX), simulated travel, and the plate work. Dreamscreen’s team walked students through how LED volume stages are revolutionising the way stories are told, from reducing the need for location shoots, to allowing Directors and DOPs to make creative decisions live on set, but this wasn’t just a day of theory, the students got hands-on.


Two people smiling inside a car, one driving and the other in a cap. Bright, grassy background, mood is happy and relaxed.
Swinburne students in acting in a simulated travel sequence
Screen displaying "Welcome to Swinburne University of Technology" with Dreamscreen Australia logo. Dark room, red stool visible below.


Students set up and shot their own simulated travel scenes using a stationary vehicle and pre-loaded driving array on the LED volume. They were able to walk through and apply the key elements of making a simulated travel sequence come to life. Seeking roles from Cinematographers, Gaffers to Actors, students embraced the collaboration of industry professionals in real time.


Two people are sitting in a car, smiling and laughing. Sunlit trees are visible through the windows, creating a relaxed, joyful mood.
Swinburne students acting in a simulated travel sequence

In another session, the spotlight turned to in-camera VFX, where students explored how lighting, lensing, and virtual environments blend in real time to create cinematic scenes straight out of science fiction. From there, they learned how camera tracking and parallax work together to create the illusion of motion.



Young man in a "nautica" shirt gazes sideways, sitting outside a rustic cabin surrounded by trees. Warm lighting creates a serene mood.
Swinburne student in his Unreal Engine environment

The highlight of the day came when two Swinburne students showcased Unreal Engine environments they had personally designed. These environments were loaded and displayed on Dreamscreen’s LED wall, giving students the rare opportunity to see their digital worlds brought to life at full scale.



We’re thrilled to see institutions like Swinburne embrace virtual production as part of their curriculum and equip the next generation of storytellers with the skills and experience they’ll need to thrive in a rapidly evolving screen industry.


A big thank you to the students and staff who made the day such a success, we can’t wait to see what you create next!

Logos on black background: Swinburne University in red on the left and Dreamscreen Australia in white on the right.

 
 
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