Virtual Production (VP) enables real-time visualization of digital scenarios in filmmaking, significantly enhancing remote collaboration and reducing costs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VPSN research project addresses the need for VP-trained personnel by offering workshops and resources to prepare educators and students, emphasizing VP’s potential to uplift both creative industries and educational curricula.
This article, “Virtual Production: A Closer Look at Digital Innovation and Health”, by Guilherme Cruz, José Raimundo, and Marta Madureira from the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (IPCA) Design School explores how Virtual Production (VP) can make an impact in both creative industries and healthcare. Presented at the 1st International Conference on Design & Industry, 2024, this research highlights the good work done by the partners of the VPSN project in pushing VP technology forward.
Developed during a summer research program at IPCA, the project focuses on preparing students to meet industry needs while showcasing VP’s practical applications. One standout initiative from the research is a one-minute video about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), produced with the University of Minho and the “Descomplica” project. This collaboration not only raises awareness but also highlights how VP can help tackle real-world challenges in an accessible way.
The article also discusses VP’s growing role in the film industry and healthcare, from improving education and training to making technology more accessible for patient care. Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing — there are challenges, like limited budgets and access to equipment — but this work makes a great case for continuing to explore VP’s potential.
Great job to the authors! Their research highlights the potential of VP to bring about meaningful change. Not just in filmmaking, but in healthcare and education too. It’s inspiring to see how innovative thinking and collaboration can tackle real-world challenges and open up new paths for future solutions.
Abstract
This article focuses on a research project about Virtual Production which was developed during a research scholarship program at Polytechnic University of Cávado e do Ave (IPCA). This project aims to implement Virtual Production (VP) technology in the academy to prepare students for a future generation of creatives capable of responding to industry needs. This project partnered with the University of Minho and the “Descomplica” Project aiming to develop a one-minute video about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using VP technology with the objective of raising awareness about this disorder and break the stigma around it. The article also discusses the potential of VP to revolutionize content creation and democratize filmmaking as well as its applications in the healthcare sector, especially in education, medical and patient care training. This article concludes by emphasizing the importance of continuing to explore the possibilities of VP while addressing its challenges and limitations in order to create an accessible, effective health system and more effective for everyone.
Keywords: Virtual Production, CGI, VFX, Mental Health, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Speculative Design
Introduction
This article was developed during a Summer School Research and Development (SSR&D), that took place at the Polytechnic University of Cávado e do Ave (IPCA), with the support of a scholarship grant. This SSR&D is a university program with a three-month duration that aims to stimulate multidisciplinary learning and research methodologies with a focus on exploring responses to specific concerns in the general area of health, to raise awareness or to prevent such problems.
The main focus of the project developed during the SSR&D was to implement Virtual Production (VP) technology in the academy, motivating schools to invest in new programs and courses, preparing students as the future generation of creatives, capable of responding to the industry needs, and also to determine the best strategy for advancing VP studios as an innovative and very recent technology. Within the scope of this project, and considering the health theme of this research, it was decided to create a partnership with the University of Minho and the Projecto “Descomplica” (Saúde Mental: Projeto Descomplica, 2022) in order to develop research on what could better intervene in the health area…
