Virtual Production in Cinema

The Virtual Production in Cinema program prepares students to work in the emerging and fast-growing area of Virtual Production in Film and Television production. This combines traditional filmmaking techniques with the new technologies of high-resolution interactive projection and LED background environments that can interact with and respond to moving cameras and live action performance. Skills include importing and managing pre-created 3D background environments, and proper calibration of systems so that physical movement can be accurately tracked and replicated on screen. Possession of these skills lead to Virtual Production employment in roles such as Virtual Production Assistant, Virtual Production Supervisor, Engine Operator, Camera Tracking Technician, On-set Interactive Camera Operator, LED Technician, Data Wrangler, Color Specialist.

A Certificate of Achievement is awarded upon completion of all required courses with a grade of C or better.

 Program Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Acquire and apply professional-level technical knowledge in creative use of virtual production and other emerging cinema technologies to create quality works of cinema.
2. Operate the tools of Virtual Production in a technically and artistically sophisticated way to create complex, artistically integrated video projects.
3. Analyze the technical qualities and aesthetic values that make a work of virtual production professionally competent as well as artistically meaningful.
4. Collaborate effectively and professionally with colleagues in the field to become a valuable contributing member of virtual production teams in the film industry.

Students will get education, experience, and training that can lead to Virtual Production employment in roles such as Virtual Production Assistant, Virtual Production Supervisor, Engine Operator, Camera Tracking Technician, On-set Interactive Camera Operator, LED Technician, Data Wrangler, Color Specialist.

It is projected that the program will award 20-25 certificates annually. 

Program Goals and Objectives:

The Certificate of Achievement /AS in Virtual Production in Cinema program prepares students to work in the emerging and fast-growing area of Virtual Production in Film and Television production. This combines traditional filmmaking techniques with the new technologies of high-resolution interactive projection and LED background environments that can interact with and respond to moving cameras and live action performance.

The marketable skills of set up, calibration, and troubleshooting of high-resolution screen arrays and camera tracking systems to provide immersive interactive backgrounds for live-action filmmaking and other entertainment production will be in focus. Students will learn to import and manage pre-created 3D background environments, ensure the proper calibration of systems, and connectivity between cameras, displays, and computer systems so that physical movement can be accurately tracked and replicated on screen in real time. They will also learn to adjust lighting and production design elements to ensure proper matching between physical foreground and digital background “realities.”

Film, television, and immersive and interactive media (AR, VR, video games) are rapidly changing how they produce their projects. In the past, these projects had traditional filmmaking methods at their center, primarily shooting on location or on sound stages. This meant the creation of elaborate and expensive sets complete with decorations created by set designers and props specialists. However, the American film, television, and game industries are rapidly adopting new standards—many have adopted a “virtual studio” model, known as Virtual Production, that employs hyper-realistic LED screens that take the place of locations and elaborate sets.

In Virtual Production the computer-created images provide greater detail than previously possible, and the filmmakers have more control over the locations and sets—no weather interruptions, no hauling many large trucks of equipment and crews to faraway locations, and no dependence on unreliable location resources. The result has been better-looking films, TV shows, and games for a much lower production cost. Due to these new technologies, these industries are saving millions of dollars on each show they produce.

However, all of the production and post-production crews, including camera operators, assistant camera operators, cinematographers, dolly grips, lighting crews, editors, and more, must be trained to use new camera tracking systems, lighting, imaging, and computer-based systems. There are currently few training programs in our service area to meet these emerging needs of the industry’s Virtual Production sector. Who will train these new employees? Pasadena City College will train the next generation of entertainment industry assistants through this program.

This will be a part of the Cinema program within Visual Arts and Media Studies. As this is new and innovative technology, there are no similar programs currently. This program will be among two other certificate programs within the Cinema Department:
Occupational Skills Certificate in Cinema Production/Filmmaking
Occupational Skills Certificate in Cinematography

According to the most recent LMI report (dated June 2025): There are two community colleges in the Los Angeles microregion that currently offer virtual production-focused programs:
1. Media Arts: Virtual Production, Motion Capture, and Advanced Visual Effects at LA City College - AA Degree and Certificate
2. Virtual Production at West L.A. College - Certificate

60 Annual Enrollment projects (non-duplicative) 

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