2025 Q2 RVPA Newsletter

From Studio to Classroom: RVPA Spring Highlights

As we move into a busy and exciting season, we’re thrilled to share the latest updates from the Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA). This spring, we’re gearing up for our Advisory Meeting, where industry professionals and educators will come together to shape the future of our programs and ensure our curriculum stays aligned with cutting-edge industry trends.

We’re also proud to report on the continued success of our internship program, which has placed students in real-world virtual production environments across the Bay Area, providing invaluable experience and mentorship.

In this issue, you’ll find a curriculum update featuring the latest developments in our Virtual Production, as well as exciting student highlights showcasing the talent, creativity, and accomplishments of our RVPA learners.

Stay tuned, stay inspired—and thank you for being part of our growing creative tech community!

RVPA Expands Vision with RJV Application for Emerging Creative Technology

The Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA) is excited to announce a new application for a Regional Joint Venture (RJV) focused on Emerging Creative Technology—an ambitious step toward launching a Bachelor of Science degree that goes beyond virtual production. This new initiative aims to broaden the scope of our curriculum to include high-demand areas such as UI/UX design, immersive realities (VR/AR), and generative AI, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape of creative technology. By shifting from a niche focus on virtual production to a more expansive, interdisciplinary approach, we are creating more pathways for students to thrive in today’s dynamic creative industries.


In addition to the bachelor’s degree effort, we’re proud to share that Diablo Valley College (DVC) is implementing noncredit courses in virtual production for the first time. This builds on the groundwork laid by Ohlone College and Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC), who already offer noncredit courses in Virtual Production Fundamentals. These free, accessible classes open the door for more learners—especially adult learners and working professionals—to gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and workflows. The RVPA continues to grow in reach and impact, fostering inclusive, future-forward education across the Bay Area.

RVPA Curriculum Update

The RVPA now offers an Associates Degree in Virtual Production. Students complete the core courses for the VP Fundamentals and VP Advanced Certificates, an elective, and the general education requirements for an associate degree. A non-credit version of the VP Fundamentals certificate is now available at Ohlone College and is in the curriculum approval process at the other RVPA colleges. The following non-credit certificates, aimed at skill-builders and industry professionals, are in the development process.

Advanced Virtual Production: Specialization Modeling
Required courses are Virtual Production I and Virtual Production 2 plus any three of the following electives:

  • 3D Modeling
  • Advanced 3D Modeling
  • Rigging
  • Texture for 3D
  • Digital Sculpting

Advanced Virtual Production: Specialization Animation
Required courses are Virtual Production I and Virtual Production 2 plus any three of the following electives:

  • Motion Graphics
  • 2D Animation
  • 3D Animation
  • Lighting and Layout
  • Motion Capture and
  • Performance Animation
Career Skills in Virtual Production
Required courses are: Virtual Production I plus any two of the following electives:
  • Intro to 3D Modeling and Animation
  • Intro to VFX
  • Game Design 1
  • Scripting for Games / Intro to blueprinting (Game Design 2)
  • Virtual Production

Technical Artist
Required courses are: Virtual Production I plus any three of the following electives:

  • Performance animation / Motion capture
  • Scripting for Games / Intro to games
  • Intro to VFX
  • Lighting and Layout
  • Rigging 

The RVPA Internship Program is Growing and Thriving!

Led by Kevin Leeper, the RVPA Technology Specialist, the Internship program is providing participating students with incredible opportunities to prepare them for careers in virtual production while developing partnerships with industry and employers. The program takes a project-based approach, which reflects industry practices. Kevin forms the teams from the following group of students from the RVPA colleges.

  • Sasank Seelam (BCC)​
  • Yunha Kim (BCC)​
  • Dorothy Abuan (BCC)​
  • Beth Nu (Ohlone)​
  • Adam Gomez (Ohlone)​
  • Christopher Stamp (DVC)​
  • Azimuth Wright (DVC)​
  • River Orellana (DVC)​
  • Justin Mead (DVC)​
  • Chantel Gee (DVC)
  • Sasank Seelam (BCC)​
  • Beth Nu (Ohlone)

Explore the latest creative projects our intern teams are building with studios and partners...

Studio Spotlight: Interns Build Virtual Production Camera Rig at Diablo Valley College

This custom camera rig is now part of the RVPA virtual production toolkit. Understanding how to configure and operate professional cameras, lenses, and tracking systems is integral to LED wall production. By building and working with this rig, interns are gaining real-world experience in the technical foundation of virtual cinematography.

Studio Spotlight: Ohlone College

Intern Beth Nu led a virtual production workshop in Ohlone College’s new LED volume studio. The live composite scene featured a hand-animated humpback whale floating through a city of clouds, built in Unreal Engine. Beth was supported by fellow interns who contributed key elements: custom cloud environments, whale rigging and animation, and studio setup for real-time compositing. This event showcased not just our studio’s potential, but the collaborative power of our internship model.

Studio Spotlight: Berkeley City College

A Star Wars Story: “Arcane Energy” is an epic fan film set in the ancient era of the Old Republic. Coming Soon…: Students are working on an episodic series utilizing live-action and Unreal. 

HTC: We are testing new software in Beta for Live Composite. It is very early Beta. 

BTS of Night of the Dodo:
Explore the making of Night of the Living Dodo, a thrilling short film directed by Berkeley City College student Yunha Kim. This innovative project utilizes advanced camera tracking and virtual production to resurrect an extinct creature in a chilling narrative. Discover how creativity, teamwork, and cutting-edge technology transformed a student film into an internationally recognized horror experience. Experience firsthand the passion and technical expertise behind this award-winning project.

Bringing Life to Economics: Rockonomics: Students are working with Economics faculty to create episodic pieces that follow the journey of a young band from startup to success, teaching the principles of Economics along the way. This project combines Animation and Live Virtual Production. Part of the RVPA Internship Program. Reconstructing Historic Los Angeles in 3D with Photogrammetry and Unreal Engine 5 Using aerial photos from 1926–1936, Tom Chesy has been reconstructing the long-lost Fort Hill area of downtown Los Angeles for virtual production. Once a defining natural landmark, the area was demolished in the 1950s to make way for a freeway. As part of the project, he is also creating a virtual production short set on Halloween night in the 1940s, featuring a masked man and a streetcar driver. He modeled and textured a period-accurate Pacific Electric streetcar using Blender and Substance Painter.

Partner Spotlight: Goal Line Studios

Our partnership with Goal Line Studios continues to create meaningful career pathways for our interns—this time through professional certification. Two RVPA interns, Azimuth Wright and Justin Mead, recently earned their Disguise Operator Certification—a major milestone in their training as virtual production professionals. Disguise is the powerful engine that drives the LED wall at Goal Line Studios, and certification in this system opens the door to real-world production roles in film, broadcast, and live events.

By investing in professional tools and collaborative training, Goal Line Studios is helping develop the next generation of virtual production talent—grounded in real experience and connected to a community of peers.

RVPA interns are making a real impact at Goal Line Studios, supporting everything from lens calibration and LED wall setup to on-set production roles. Their cross-trained skills in green screen, motion capture, and virtual production have made them valuable contributors across the board. This partnership reflects RVPA’s unique internship model—preparing students for the full ecosystem of roles required in modern virtual production.

Watch our Interview with Joe Madden – CEO of Goal Line Studios

Partner Spotlight: MOVRS

Interns Bring 3D Sports Analytics to Life with Roblox

Through our partnership with MOVRS, a leader in AI-powered 3D sports analytics, RVPA interns recently turned raw motion data into a fully immersive experience using Roblox.

Using 2D video of a gymnastics routine, MOVRS’ technology generated 3D data that powered a biomechanically accurate gymnast—complete with an interactive environment featuring multiple gymnastics events. Interns built the experience from the ground up: designing the environment, animating the routine, and deploying the final project in Roblox.

This wasn’t just a demo—it was a proof of concept for what’s possible when AI and creativity collide. From sports to entertainment and beyond, the same techniques are being used to train robots, visualize medical simulations, and create alt-broadcast experiences.

Unlike traditional internships that place a single intern with a company, MOVRS engaged with a full team of interns—each bringing a unique skillset. This studio-style model enabled them to collaborate across disciplines and deliver a complete, professional-grade experience—mirroring real-world creative workflows.

Watch the Project:

This collaboration highlights what happens when students are given real-world challenges, meaningful tools, and the space to create.

Tech Talk: Inside the Regional Virtual Production Academy: Preparing Students for the Future of Virtual Production

This Tech Talk offers an inside look at the Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA), featuring expert discussions on virtual production and emerging media technologies. Designed to educate and inspire, this episode provides valuable insights and practical takeaways for students and professionals exploring careers in this evolving field.

Topics Covered:
  • RVPA Overview – Kevin Leeper shares how five colleges collaborate to provide hands-on virtual production training.
  • Internship Program – Students gain real-world experience working on industry projects, including game design and motion capture, twice a week.
  • Industry Demand – Monica Capello discusses the growing need for expertise in 3D modeling, animation, and virtual production.
  • Certifications & Training – RVPA offers both fundamental and advanced certifications tailored to industry needs.
  • CVC Registration Walkthrough – Dan Montoya provides a step-by-step guide to the CVC registration process.

RVPA at OneGoal’s Student Summit & Opportunity Fair at CSU East Bay

On Friday, April 18, 2025, we participated in the OneGoal Student Summit and Opportunity Fair at California State University, East Bay. This dynamic event brought together high school juniors exploring college and career pathways, with a special interest in multimedia arts.

RVPA was honored to host a workshop and connect with students during the Opportunity Fair, sharing insights into our hands-on programs in virtual production, UI/UX design, immersive media, and other emerging fields in creative technology.

Special thanks to Gail, our Student Success Specialist, for capturing and sharing photos from the day!

RVPA Spring 2025 Advisory Board Meeting

The Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA) is excited to invite industry professionals, educators, and community partners to our Spring Advisory Board Meeting—a key opportunity to help shape the future of creative tech education in California.

📅 Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
🕓 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
🔗 Agenda & Zoom Link: Click Here

RSVP by Tuesday, April 22 via the registration link in the agenda.
Questions? Please contact Mary Clarke-Miller at mclarkemiller@peralta.edu