From October 2019, the new WheelWorks Digital Academy will be offering training sessions in Motion Capture - the process of recording patterns of an actor's movements to animate a digital character in film, animation or video game.
The programme will be open to young people aged 9-24, and will help to kickstart their careers in the creative industries.
Jan Todd, Social Enterprise Co-ordinator with WheelWorks said: "WheelWorks is incredibly excited to be bringing Motion Capture technology from the big screen right into the hands of young people across Northern Ireland.
"While young people here may be familar with what 'MoCap' can do having seen it in their favourite blockbuster films such as 'Avengers: Endgame', this will be the first time that they will learn how to use it themselves to produce their own work for film, animation and game design."
Young people with little or qualifications need not worry; Veronica, Digital Innovation Officer at WheelWorks said: One girl that joined one of our WheelWorks course created an augmented reality business card with us. She was classified as a 'neat' meaning she was not in any education, training or employment. The course that we did with her helped her to get into the Belfast Met where she is now starting to do game design, virtual reality and augmented reality modules."
The WheelWorks Digital Academy opens on Monday 28 October with the Halloween Tech Camp in Motion Capture Game Development.
Over three days, participants will learn about 3D Character Design and Texturing for film, animation and game design. They will also animate their own 3D Character with Motion Capture by recording their own actions in real-time to a 3D character model and create a 3D character for their very own game.
On Saturday 9 November, the WheelWorks Digital Development Lab will open for five weekly sessions.
Topics will include 3D Character Design and Texturing, 3D Character Animation and Motion Capture, Augmented Reality Development, Beginner 3D Game Design and Music-Marking to soundtrack your animation or game.
The WheelWorks team will also be at Q-Con over the weekend (30 August to 01 September) for people of all ages to come along and find out more information.
The WheelWorks Digital Academy is currently open for bookings. To secure a place for your young person aged 9-24, contact jan@wheelworksarts.com or tel. 02890 244 063 or visit www.wheelworksarts.com/digitalacademy
