Advanced Television and Film program updated to provide specialized training in virtual production

Sheridan will relaunch its renowned Advanced Television and Film (ATVF) graduate certificate program in January 2024 with updated curriculum focusing on virtual production (VP), an emerging technology widely considered the future of film and broadcast media.

In addition to studying all aspects of virtual production, students will specialize in one of three streams — art department, camera department or VP technicians — and gain hands-on experience working with 3D assets, integrating technology with design and cameras, post-production and more.

"Various film degree programs include courses about virtual production, but few throughout the world feature extensive, full-fledged, multi-departmental training in this exciting and versatile technology," says ATVF program coordinator Paul Lenart. "Earning this specialized credential from one of Canada's leading arts schools could lead to ground-floor opportunities working in VP, whether you're a recent graduate of a film and broadcast program, a media professional looking to upgrade your skills, or someone with a game design background looking to transition into the world of film and broadcasting."

Classes in the one-year program will be delivered in a hybrid format, with in-person learning including full access to a newly-built virtual production studio at Sheridan's Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville, Ont. Students will also have opportunities to engage with other studios in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), such as Sheridan’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) — a pioneer of VP technology in Ontario and Canada.

Students will work with cutting-edge software and equipment, including Arri cameras; Unreal Engine, Unity and other VP/gaming engines used by industry professionals; and an LED volume in a dedicated studio, enabling them to shoot projects using a virtual 3D environment on a VP volume (oversized digital screen.)

They will also have chances to collaborate with students in other notable Sheridan programs, including the Honours Bachelor of Film and Television; Advanced Special Effects, Makeup, Prosthetics and Props; Visual Effects; Makeup for Media and Creative Arts; and Honours Bachelor of Creative Writing & Publishing.

Taught by industry leaders who have worked on internationally recognized and award-winning TV series and feature films, ATVF was founded in 2000 to integrate practical, technical and creative aspects of television and film studies while providing direct, industry-relevant experience. The program was redesigned in 2023 to address emerging technologies, maintaining the program’s original mandate of providing advanced education in media industries and ensuring graduates will be able to successfully compete in an ever-changing production landscape.

ATVF belongs to the Centre International de Liaison des Écoles de Cinéma et de Télévision (CILECT), an international consortium of the world's major television and film schools. Past ATVF graduates have earned Academy Award nominations, Genie Awards, festival awards and numerous other honours.