MediaCityUK’s dock10 has appointed two junior virtual studio developers as it seeks to help tackle an industry-wide skills shortage in virtual studios production.
The two hires represent an extension of dock10’s in-house training scheme for TV studio craft talent which was established in 2020.
Aya Al-bayati and Katie Bayman have both joined dock10, working full time at the Salford facility as junior virtual studio developers.
Both new trainees graduated this year, Al-bayati from the University of Teesside with a degree in computer games art and Bayman from Salford University with a degree in animation, specialising in 3D modelling and environments. Both are proficient with 3D computer graphics applications used to create virtual studio environments such as Autodesk Maya and Unreal Engine 4.
The pair are now learning their craft on-the-job as part of dock10’s virtual studio team, building up the skills and relationships to succeed in virtual production.
dock10 is a pioneer in the field of virtual studios, helping creative teams to produce many programmes and live events that rely on virtual technology including Channel 5’s upcoming Dinosaur with Stephen Fry, UEFA EURO 2020, 2021 Gran Turismo Sport FIA Online Championship, Match of the Day and BBC Bitesize.
Richard Wormwell, dock 10’s head of production innovation, said: “At dock10, we’ve seen an explosion in demand from programme makers who want to incorporate virtual elements in entertainment, sports, children’s and factual TV programmes. But there is a real skills shortage in virtual studios in the UK. We recognise it’s our responsibility to help grow the virtual studios’ talent pool and to invest in hands-on, practical training. We are delighted to expand dock10’s virtual studios team with the appointments of Aya and Katie as Junior Virtual Studio Developers.”
dock10’s in-house training scheme for TV studio craft talent aims to train up the next generation of experienced production crews and to address a widely acknowledged skills gap in TV production. As part of the initiative, dock10 is also currently training two camera assistants and two sound assistants. The dock10 training programme offers a rare opportunity for trainees to accumulate sustained and meaningful on-the-job experience, working on multiple different shows at the state-of-the-art studio.
