EF Visiting Teaching Fellowship (ADA): Exploring animation and virtual production with Paul Van Opdenbosch

(Students in QUT’s VP studio shooting ICVFX shots for Wildfire – Student 3rd year film)

Keynote – The New Frontier: Building Virtual Production Capacities within University Settings
Monday 08 September | 11am-12:30pm | EG02 UNSW Art & Design | In-Person only |  Register

In this keynote, Paul Van Opdenbosch shares insights from his journey developing Virtual Production (VP) capabilities at QUT, exploring both the creative potential and institutional challenges of embedding VP into higher education.

Framing VP as an expansive and evolving field, Paul unpacks how the term now encompasses a wide range of workflows and methods, reflecting the ongoing convergence of games, film, VFX, animation, and real-time technologies. As traditional boundaries between roles, pipelines, and production stages blur, the talk highlights how VP is reshaping both industry practice and teaching environments.

The keynote offers a behind-the-scenes look at QUT’s multi-year development of VP infrastructure and curriculum, reflecting on key decisions, setbacks, and wins along the way. Paul also discusses the role of experimentation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and student engagement in preparing the next generation of creators.

Closing with a look ahead, the session sets the stage for upcoming discussions on emerging techniques, teaching models, and the broader cultural and creative implications of real-time production.

A music video shoot in Virtual Production

Inside the Volume: A Hands-On Virtual Production Studio Experience (Student workshop)
Tuesday 09 September | 2-4pm | Green Screen Room UNSW Art & Design | In-Person only | Register

Step into the world of real-time storytelling in this immersive, student-focused workshop. Beginning with a live demonstration of real-time Virtual Production techniques, students will gain insight into core concepts and workflows behind green screen and in-engine compositing.

Participants will then take the lead in a guided, hands-on shoot within the Virtual Production studio—experiencing firsthand the collaborative roles, tools, and decision-making that shape real-time production. Along the way, we’ll unpack key approaches, discuss emerging practices, and explore how VP is transforming creative pipelines from pre to post.

No prior VP experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

(BTS of the ICVFX shoot for Queensland Museum)

Expanding the Frame: Virtual Production in Practice
Wednesday 10 September 2025 |  10:30am-12pm | A block level 1 seminar space, UNSW Art & Design | In-Person only | Register

Building on themes introduced in the keynote, during this discussion takes a deeper dive into the practical application of Virtual Production across a range of research-led and industry-engaged projects.

Through case studies including collaborative work with the Queensland Museum, immersive travel simulations, and the challenge of shooting within a simulated firestorm, participants will explore the versatility of VP beyond traditional screen storytelling.

The session will unpack how these projects were conceived, developed, and delivered—highlighting creative approaches, technical workflows, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Ideal for those interested in the intersection of research, education, and emerging production methods, the workshop offers space for discussion, questions, and reflection on how VP can be shaped to serve diverse creative and educational goals.

Virtual Production Pedagogies: A Hands-On Studio Demo for Educators 
Wednesday 10 September 2025 | 2-4pm | Green Screen Room, UNSW Art & Design (TBC)  | In-Person only | Register

This interactive staff workshop offers an opportunity to experience the Virtual Production (VP) studio from a teaching and learning perspective. Building on the student workshop, the session includes a live real-time demo and explores the hands-on methods used to engage students in collaborative, studio-based learning.

Participants will step into the VP space, observe practical workflows, and discuss how concepts such as embodiment, real-time feedback, and creative iteration are leveraged to support active learning. The workshop also reflects on student questions and experiences to inform broader teaching strategies, offering insights into how VP can be embedded across curriculum and disciplines.

No prior technical knowledge is required—just an interest in how VP can support innovative, experiential education.

(Virtual Production recreation of emergency ward for short film titled JTI 3 )

Virtual Production: Collaborative Futures for Teaching, Research, and Impact
Thursday 11 September 2025 | 10:30am-12:30pm | UNSW Teaching Commons  | Hybrid | Register

Join us in exploring the growing role of Virtual Production (VP) across diverse fields in higher education and research, followed by a Q&A and networking morning tea.

Drawing on cross-faculty collaborations and real-world project examples, this session will highlight how VP is being applied in ways that extend beyond entertainment—supporting teaching innovation, interdisciplinary research, and projects with tangible social and cultural impact.

Through case studies and discussion, we’ll consider what underpins the effective education of students in this rapidly evolving field, and how VP is enabling new forms of creative inquiry, simulation, and experiential learning.

This forum is ideal for academic and professional staff interested in emerging teaching technologies, curriculum development, and transdisciplinary research.

Summary session – morning tea
Friday 12 September 2025 | 11am-12:30pm | EG02 UNSW Art & Design  | In-person only | Register

Join us for this final event wrapping up a week of activities exploring Virtual Production in teaching and research. Featuring Q&A and networking morning tea, this session reflects on key themes, showcases collaborative projects, and highlights the potential of VP to drive innovation across disciplines. A chance to connect, reflect, and look ahead to future possibilities.