Past Workshop Descriptions

Virtual Production Storytelling with Unreal Engine

The Virtual Production Storytelling with Unreal Engine program is an intensive 36-hour live online training initiative scheduled over an eight week period from March to April 2026. This program is structured to educate ten (10) Ontario-based independent creators from equity-deserving groups on the leading-edge creative workflows and tools in Unreal Engine. Using a hybrid model, the program will deliver a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates online practical training, live labs, mentorship and guest speaker presentations, as well as an in-person studio experience.

Each week filmmakers will explore the workflow with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5.7 to learn the fundamental tools and techniques used to create short previsualization or animated films. Using real-time tools, this hands-on training will introduce and mentor students to the concepts of visualizing their scripts using high quality virtual environments, digital characters and animation to bring their stories to life.

Unreal Engine (UE) is a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games, Fortnite’s online video game platform developer. It has since been used in a variety of genres of games and adopted by other industries, most notably the film and television industry for Virtual Production. With UE, filmmakers have unprecedented creative control with 3D assets and developer tools that they can reuse across every phase of pre-production and production. The toolset allows artists to build stunning photoreal sets or uniquely stylized worlds, create compelling digital characters, visualize and block scenes, animate characters and cinematics, explore versions through editing and power entire productions from first concept to finished experience.

Because of the intensity of the project and the focus on supporting equity-seeking groups as outlined by the funder, interested participants need to apply in order to take part in this initiative. Once selected, participants will be sent a registration confirmation form and a payment form.

Schedule:
All sessions are online with Eastern Time (ET) start times.

Week 0 – Orientation
Wednesday March 11, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET

Week 1 – Training, Live Tech Lab, Guest Speaker and Mentorship
Saturday March 28, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET

Script Editing Lab: Weekday Evening – Day and Time: Wednesday April 1, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Week 2 – Training, Live Tech Lab, Guest Speaker and Mentorship

Saturday April 11, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET
Script Editing Lab: Weekday Evening – Day and Time: Tuesday April 7, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Week 3 – Training, Live Tech Lab, Guest Speaker and Mentorship
Saturday April 18, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET

Week 4 – Training, Live Tech Lab, Guest Speaker and Mentorship
Saturday April 25, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET

Week 5 – Training, Live Tech Lab and Mentorship
Saturday May 2, 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET

Week 6 – Training, Live Tech Lab and Mentorship
Saturday May 9, 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET

Week 7 – Live Tech Lab and Mentorship
Saturday May 16, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Week 8 – Live Tech Lab and Mentorship
Saturday May 23, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Week 9 – Screening (TBA)

Commitment:
This program will require participants to dedicate a minimum of 20 additional self-guided hours per week to work on their projects.

Location: Online
Category: Virtual Production Storytelling program
Maximum Capacity: 14
36.5 hours of instruction in 9 parts$500 /member$500 /nonmember

Wait List
Add your name and email to the wait list and we will contact you if a spot is available, or a session is added: