Mo-Cap Studio Opens at Fla. University

Students at the University of Central Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy will now have access to high-tech, 46-camera motion-capture studio, thanks to Vicon Entertainment, which owns the newly opened facility, and House of Moves, which will run the operation. Several university faculty members are already trained to use the motion-capture equipment, and students are working on game pitches and projects in the new facility. House of Moves executives say they will train more faculty members, as well as students, to work in the studio and bring in their own employees to assist on major productions. However, the facility will not be exclusive to students. Like most other House of Moves studios, the Florida center will offer products and services to entertainment companies in need of motion capture work. Because the new studio is one of the largest on the east cost, Orlando’s local politicians and business leaders are hoping it will draw in film and game companies from a fairly wide region; and the university is hoping those companies will then become familiar with the type of students (and hopefully future employees) that graduate from FIEA. “[The mo-cap studio] brings invaluable educational opportunities to our students, who are already working in the facility on their own projects,” said UCF president John Hitt at an opening ceremony on Monday. “Their education here will land them the highest-level jobs available upon graduation.” In addition to receiving the new mo-cap facility, recent renovations at FIEA have updated the school’s film sound stages, editing suites, audio suites, and new teaching auditorium.