S.I.C. Film School adopts BOXX workstations for studio-based volumetric capture
S.I.C. Film School utilizes BOXX APEXX S3 workstations to power its volumetric capture studio, supporting virtual production, 3D modeling, and VR/AR/XR content creation. The school, located at Lionsgate Studios, trains students in these advanced technologies for careers in film and the Metaverse. BOXX's hardware enables complex workflows involving multiple high-end applications like Blender and Unity for 3D rendering and scanning.
Key Takeaways
- S.I.C. Film School is the first educational institution located inside a major studio complex at Lionsgate Studios in Yonkers.
- Integrated BOXX APEXX S3 systems feature Intel i9-13900K processors and NVIDIA RTX A4000 GPUs to support high-end 3D rendering.
- The school utilizes Depthkit Studio software for multi-camera volumetric capture, scanning real-world subjects into 3D holograms.
- The 'SIC Tank,' a converted mobile ambulance, facilitates remote livestreaming, drone operations, and mobile hologram production.
- Graduates participate in a 10-week intensive program focused on virtual production, AR/VR/XR, and social impact content.
Why It Matters
The integration of high-performance workstations into film education signal a shift where virtual production (VP) is moving from a niche VFX specialty to a foundational skill. By placing enterprise-grade hardware like the APEXX S3 in a student's hands within a major studio complex, the barrier between technical training and professional-grade output is thinning. For the broader ecosystem, this accelerates the talent pipeline for the growing $3.3 billion virtual production market. As streaming platforms increasingly demand high-fidelity, interactive, and spatial content, the ability to produce volumetric assets at scale will determine which studios can efficiently feed the Metaverse and AR-enabled distribution channels. Watch for whether rival film programs adopt similar onsite-studio partnerships to secure hardware-heavy VP curricula.
Additional Context
The virtual production sector is entering a period of rapid normalization and commercial scaling. According to reports from Garden Studios in May 2026, virtual production methods including LED volumes and real-time rendering have become industry standards for high-end television (HETV) and feature film driving scenes. This technological shift is reflected in market forecasts by Global Market Insights Inc., which values the virtual production market at $3.3 billion in 2026 with a projected rise to $18.5 billion by 2035. This growth is driven by the need for operational efficiency and the rising viewer expectation for cinematic quality across all streaming tiers, including branded content and sports analysis. Hardware providers are responding to this demand with specialized architectures. Per reports from Jon Peddie Research in April 2025, BOXX has recently updated its media and entertainment lineup with NVIDIA Blackwell-based GPUs, specifically designed to handle the massive memory requirements of neural rendering and AI-assisted workflows. These systems are optimized for interoperability between real-time engines like Unreal Engine and Unity, which are now central to the production of digital doubles and holographic characters. This hardware evolution is critical as studios confront the challenges of scaling VP beyond premium productions into more cost-sensitive markets. In Yonkers, the 'Hollywood on the Hudson' development continues to expand its footprint. Per the New York Real Estate Journal in April 2026, the local film industry now generates approximately $46 million in annual sales for the city. Great Point Studios, which hosts tenants including Lionsgate, Paramount, and Starz, has been key to this expansion, recently adding specialized LED car stages and workforce development centers. This regional growth illustrates a rising trend of 'production hubs' that co-locate high-end technical infrastructure with educational institutions to address the acute shortage of trained virtual production technicians.
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