NYC Gazette

NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts has inaugurated the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, a state-of-the-art facility in Brooklyn designed to train undergraduate and graduate students on advanced technology. The center aims to provide opportunities for collaboration and internships within one of New York City's media hubs.

Named after the renowned filmmaker and NYU alumnus, the center is among the first of its kind on the East Coast. Located on the top floor of Building 8 at Industry City along the Brooklyn waterfront, it further cements NYU Tisch's status as a global leader in cinematic arts education.

The establishment of this center was made possible by a significant donation from Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments, and filmmaker George Lucas through their Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation. Announced in 2021, this gift also funds the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts, Tisch’s Department of Cinema Studies, and scholarships. It represents the largest donation in Tisch School's history.

The facility includes two 3,500-square-foot double-height stages without columns, two 1,800-square-foot television studios, modern broadcast and control rooms, dressing rooms and makeup areas, a cafe, scene workshops, and offices. NYU expects that the project will achieve LEED Platinum certification.

Virtual production technologies are revolutionizing filmmaking by using game engine software, graphics cards, camera tracking systems, and performance capture techniques. This allows actors and directors to create visual effects in real-time within a virtual environment rather than during post-production. Such advancements enable actors to interact naturally with their surroundings while directors can plan scenes with precision.

“The new Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center marks a monumental step into the future of storytelling and positions Tisch as the premier training ground for innovative filmmaking technologies,” said Allyson Green, dean of the Tisch School of the Arts. “We are grateful to the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation for their transformative gift that will help usher in the next wave of visionary filmmakers.”

Martin Scorsese is widely regarded as one of America's greatest filmmakers. He earned both his bachelor's degree (1964) and master's degree (1968) from NYU before receiving an Honorary Degree in 1992. He currently serves on Tisch School's Dean’s Council.

NYU’s Veterans Future Lab also operates at Industry City since its opening in 2017. The site hosts numerous film and media-related businesses such as equipment suppliers and production companies which offer students ample networking opportunities.

For over five decades, NYU's Tisch School has utilized New York City's rich artistic resources to provide comprehensive training for artists and scholars worldwide.