MONTREAL, Sept. 29, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Representatives from Ubisoft Montréal and the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) announced today the creation of a new partnership aimed at training students from the School in motion capture for the video games industry. At the end of their program, students will receive a certificate recognizing the training offered by Ubisoft.
Through this partnership, students from NTS's French acting program will have access to theoretical and practical courses covering all aspects of motion capture in the video games industry starting from contracts and auditions, all the way to studio sessions with Ubisoft employees. Students will have the opportunity to use cutting-edge equipment in order to gain knowledge and experience with this technology.
"For Ubisoft Montréal, this new partnership is a great opportunity to be involved in our community's development while benefiting from the talent of local actors. Through this program, we will offer students a new career opening in a booming industry and retain their services afterward in the production of our video games. Because of this, the talent of our local actors will shine around the world," said Mr. Francis Baillet, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Ubisoft Montréal.
"The National Theatre School of Canada sees in this partnership an opportunity for the students to put in practice the rigorous training they undergo and, also, to help them broaden their field of experience as well as their skills. With this program, our students will increase their professional versatility and will discover new ways to earn a living," explained Mrs. Denise Guilbault, Artistic Director for the French Section and Director of the Interpretation (French Acting) program at the NTS.
"The National Theatre School is always looking for new partnerships with innovative companies to enrich its training programs. This new collaboration will undoubtedly lead to a mutually beneficial transfer of know-how between the School and Ubisoft. Even more interesting will be how we learn from one another, in what ways our two art forms can transform together. The oldest form of storytelling meets the youngest – I am sure this is just the beginning of something incredibly interesting," declared Mr. Gideon Arthurs, CEO of the National Theatre School of Canada.
"This new partnership is without a doubt a great opportunity to make the art of motion capture, an essential part of successful new-generation video games, more widely known among Quebec's actors. The quality of actors' dramatic expression is paramount today in order to meet the expectation of players, who are always looking for a more enhanced experience, including the movement of the human body. That is why it's very important for us to have access to a pool of talented theatre actors who, because of their training, will better embody video-game characters that need a greater artistic involvement of their surrounding environment," concluded Mr. Mathieu Paquin, Supervisor of the Motion Capture Studio at Ubisoft Montréal.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin's Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy's video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft's worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2013-14 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated sales of 1,007 million euros. - See more at: www.ubisoftgroup.com. Ubisoft Montréal employs 3 000 people in Québec.
About the National Theatre School of Canada
Since 1960, the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) has been recognized as a leading institution for anyone wishing to pursue a career as a playwright, director, actor, set and costume designer, or production professional. The NTS is unique: it offers high-level training programs in all aspects of the theatre arts, in both French and English. Many of its 2,000 graduates are among the country's most active and versatile artists and designers.
SOURCE: UBISOFT
Fabrice Giguère, Media Relations Officer, Ubisoft Montréal, 514 795-5753, [email protected]; Stéphanie Brody, Publicist and Outreach Manager, National Theatre School of Canada, 514 842-7954, poste 165, [email protected]
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