Bow Valley College unveiled its Digital Entertainment Nexus Production Hub for its launch at the college’s downtown Calgary campus on Monday (May 26).

The hub is designed to support film and TV productions, students and independent creators to produce visual effects, create content and develop their skills while generating revenue for the college and boosting Calgary’s entertainment industry.

“This Production Hub is a significant investment in the creative and digital industries that will benefit high calibre film and TV productions as well as independent creators,” said Dr. Mishek Mwaba, Bow Valley College president and CEO, in a statement.

The 331-square-metre hub, supported with a $5.5 million grant from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), is equipped with a soundstage including a volume wall with 3D audio capabilities, a post-production space for creating effects and developing content and a dailies room with sound and colour calibration tools to review and adjust projects in production.

The hub also includes motion capture technology for the animation, gaming, television and sports industries, which was in part supported by an Applied Research Tools and Instruments grant.

As part of its funding commitment from OCIF, Bow Valley College runs a series of digital accelerators and events focused on connecting talent with resources and collaboration opportunities for Calgary’s creative industries. The college’s Indie Accelerator Program, completed by 18 Calgary startups, offers streams for game development, esports business and film and TV production with the next cohort starting June 3.

Image courtesy of Bow Valley College; photo by Bill Macfarlane