CJP installs extensive facilities at University of Sunderland

CJP is installing a number of facilities at the University of Sunderland for use by media production students.

Once work is completed at the beginning of 2023, students will have access to an 10m x 3.5m LED volume, green screen stage, HD studio, and outside broadcast facilities. The virtual production stage will use StarTracker Studio from Mo-Sys. 

This comes after CJP has already completed significant work at the university, including the refurbishment of an existing green screen studio, replacing legacy equipment which had largely been donated by broadcasters with modern virtual studio systems. It also installed an LED lighting rig to replace power-hungry legacy lamps.

CJP also upgraded the campus production studio to HD, using mostly Ross equipment including Xpression graphics and a Carbonite switcher, and provided a four channel outside broadcast package. 

Nicholas Glean, senior lecturer in video and new media at the university, said: “Our job is first to enthuse our students with a love for production and performance, and second to ensure their career prospects are as strong as possible when they graduate.

“Our students can go to producers who may still be nervous around virtual and augmented reality studios and other new techniques and say ‘I’ve done this – look at my showreel’. Getting real, extended hands-on experience is hugely important.”

Christopher Phillips, managing director of CJP, added: “We have worked with the University of Sunderland to achieve what they need to be the leaders in their field.

“But even more important, we have helped them link everything up with real-world workflows. The whole production centre mirrors the way the best modern professional centres work. Having facilities that do not compromise on quality and functionality is a really important part of preparing students for their future careers.”

Glean continued: added “Thanks to CJP, we are the first to be able to offer courses on virtual and augmented production in our own facilities, aimed at film and television. Working together, we have created a working and teaching environment which is roundly integrated: these are not isolated technologies, but all directed to production. During the process, the team at CJP has opened the door for our staff and students to meet other people and vendors in the industry, expanding our contacts to enrich our offering and extend our outreach into the community locally, nationally and globally.”

This development comes as the University of Sunderland, alongside Sunderland City Council and North East Screen, aims to become a regional hub for media production. Plans for a 500,000+ sq ft film studio have been submitted as part of this, possibly including what would be the world’s largest covered water studio.