Nottingham university invests £1.3m in 'Mandalorian' film tech

A demonstration by ARRI Solutions showing the new technology

A university is investing £1.3m in technology used to create Disney's The Mandalorian for its digital arts students.

Nottingham Trent University says it will be "one of the most advanced virtual production suites in the UK".

The suite will include a 30ft-wide and 13ft-tall LED screen and high-quality sound and camera systems.

NTU said the investment will position it as a "global leader in digital arts".

The new technology will be housed in the university's forthcoming design and digital arts building, which is being constructed in Nottingham city centre and is set to open in September 2024.

The new design and digital arts building

It is the same technology used to create the Star Wars spin-off, The Mandalorian, which won several awards for the series' special effects.

The suite - being delivered by audio-visual technology specialists Creative Technology and ARRI Solutions - will allow artists to perform in front of the huge LED display, featuring about 10 million pixels, which will be able to virtually "transport the audience" to anywhere in the world, or beyond.

It will also have a greenscreen studio, a recording studio, and a studio where students can learn various filming techniques.

The investment as a whole is expected to create an additional £1m in student expenditure in the local economy, according to NTU.

The university says the investment is an "exciting development"

Michael Marsden, executive dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design at NTU, said the investment could "change the way local filmmakers work" and could "inspire a renaissance" in the city's filmmaking industry.

He said: "At the same time, we will become a global leader in digital arts and filmmaking education, creating a rich talent pool of young creatives who will graduate with sector-leading expertise and hands-on industry experience".

As well as digital filmmaking, NTU says the space will enable it to develop its credentials in other areas of digital design, including animation, gaming, graphic design, and illustration.