Come along to the BAFTA award-winning National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield to meet Jonathan McFall, Head of VFX: Environments and Assets MA and Ian Murphy, Head of VFX: Lighting and Compositing MA. You’ll get to experience these courses in action, and tour the NFTS campus and facilities. This taster day is a great way to find out more about these new courses and what they can do for your career.
Discover VFX at the NFTS
Jonathan McFall and Ian Murphy will use this taster day to give prospective students a practical introduction to how our two new one-year MA VFX courses work together in a real production pipeline.
The session is built around a live NFTS commercial currently in production; centred on a photoreal digital recreation of a 1960s Halina Prefect camera – the hero prop in a time-travel adventure campaign created to showcase the courses.
MA VFX: Environments and Assets
In the morning, Jonathan McFall will introduce the Environments and Assets side of the pipeline, giving attendees the chance to make a small addition or modification to the camera asset.
This provides a hands-on introduction to the kind of 3D work used across the industry to create digital props, vehicles, environments and creatures – whether building entirely new assets or extending what production cannot practically source or shoot.
MA VFX: Lighting and Compositing
In the afternoon, Ian Murphy will take attendees through the Lighting and Compositing side of the process; showing how that digital asset is integrated into a live-action shot from the commercial.
Using material from the real production pipeline, attendees will get a practical introduction to compositing, integration, colour matching and the process of making CG sit convincingly in a photographed scene.
A Collaborative Production Approach
Alongside the practical sessions, we will explore how the commercial was developed at the NFTS as a genuinely collaborative production involving cinematography, production design, model making, editorial and VFX – mirroring the way professional visual effects productions operate.
What You’ll Take Away
The aim is to give attendees a genuine taste of both disciplines, an understanding of how they connect, and a clear sense of how students on the two courses collaborate to deliver industry-standard visual effects work for screen.
10 – 10:30 | Register/refreshments
10:30 – 12:30pm | VFX Environments and Assets session with Jonathan McFall
12:30 – 1 | Lunch (sandwiches provided or bring your own)
1 - 3pm | VFX Lighting and Compositing session with Ian Murphy
3 – 3:30pm | Tour of NFTS
3:30pm | Event ends
FAQs
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
Due to Health and Safety regulations, you must be 18 years of age or older to attend this Open Day.
What are the transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?
NFTS is located 10 minutes’ walk from Beaconsfield train station which is on the Chiltern line. Parking spaces are available for Blue Badge holders only (please arrange via openday@nfts.co.uk). However, there are plenty of parking options around the NFTS, within walking distance.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
You can print or simply show your online ticket/QR code on your smart phone when you arrive.
We look forward to meeting you!
Questions or access requirements? Please email openday@nfts.co.uk
