Virtual Production Dojo launches NZ First, Industry-Specific training in Virtual Production Methodologies for Screen Sector.

Jul 21, 2021
Dunedin, Otago
New Zealand

For Immediate Release 

Virtual Production Dojo, the latest venture by Jeasy Sehgal, Founder – Creative Director of Graphic Monk Productions, announced today the first of its kind, industry-specific, hands-on training in Virtual Production Capabilities in New Zealand within the screen and Games sector.

Jeasy Sehgal spearheads his passion for training and knowledge sharing with “Virtual Production Dojo”. A Specialist private training enterprise that is built upon Not-For-Profit principles with an emphasis on training the next generation of specialist solution providers.

The latest study published by NZTE (New Zealand Trade and Enterprise) titled DEMAND FOR REGIONAL STUDIOS AND VIRTUAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES IN NEW ZEALAND found that Virtual Production is a growing methodology internationally that uses a range of tools to help support and streamline screen production. Many devices have been developed in New Zealand over the years, and New Zealand must continue to keep up its pace with these developments.

As a think tank training program, Virtual Production Dojo aims to fill this void by offering hands-on training in Virtual Production, Animation, Filmmaking and Gamification.

The program would be a testbed program and the first of its kind training in emerging technologies in New Zealand as a knowledge-sharing framework where those with creative skills and technical programming knowledge can work on a prototype sprint with their cohort.

The curated educational programs aim to provide participants with exposure to new and emerging technologies, enabling specialist solution providers prepared for the developing creative industries.

“Ethnic & Indigenous Communities is a vast pool of talented, well educated, and experienced professionals. However, many of these individuals, out of circumstantial necessity, are unable to pursue their creative capabilities.

Virtual Production Dojo aims to empower and offer opportunities to those who, either through personal growth or being dispersed due to Covid-19, want to pursue their passion in the creative industries like the screen sector, independent filmmaking, game design, animation, augmented reality, virtual reality and more.

The program looks at removing the barrier of entry to learning and knowledge sharing by enabling the participants to have a sound understanding and methodologies of the processes enabling them to further research and explore their capabilities post the program. – Jeasy Sehgal”

The program aims to add resilience and confidence in the next generation of graduates and those with industry experience; ready for a career change, bringing a more resilient and curious talent pool into the market prepared for the coming age of virtual production, animation, gamification, and mixed entertaining experiences by building Virtual Production Capabilities and talent pool and engaging Ethnic & Indigenous Communities to provide better economic growth opportunities.

Virtual Production Dojo training provides contemporary skills in an industry-specific yet globally fast-growing field and broadens the spectrum for employment capabilities. There is a growing demand for such skills globally and locally, and it has immense future potential.

“We are looking to collaborate with relevant Government Ministry Departments to bring training, scholarship opportunities to empower Ethnic & Indigenous Communities in Aotearoa”

The program has been developed in consultation with Industry Stakeholders, Technology Partners, a well experienced Advisory Team made up of local and international teams, with a view of training the talent capabilities in the screen sector for Virtual Production Methodologies.

Virtual Production Dojo is now accepting expressions of interest for their pilot program with a limited number of seats.

Based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, Graphic Monk Productions is a boutique multi-disciplinary production house incorporating Film & Media, Virtual Production, Markerless Motion Capture, Custom Digital Human Creation, and Gamification. (https://graphicmonk.com/)  

One such in-house project – Oyun’s Quest, is currently operating as a talent development internship framework. (https://oyunsquest.com/). This has been the foundation pilot study for Virtual Production Dojo development (https://virtualproductiondojo.com/).

Jeasy Sehgal, Founder – Creative Director at Graphic Monk, is accredited as New Zealand first certified trainer in Reallusion Character Creator & Iclone, as well as currently pursuing the Master of Technological Futures while researching the emotional and empathetic responses in Digital Humans / Virtuals assisting in user engagement.

Press Contacts

Sardar Jeasy Sehgal
Founder – Creative Director
VIRTUAL PRODUCTION DOJO