Last Friday we held a mini celebration in our classrooms where we launched Virtual Environments Lab, the first in a long line of programs that will enrich what this year’s CGA conference can offer.

We are talking about an educative program that will give young digital artists a chance to get familiar with different aspects of creating an environment on three different digital sets in Unreal Engine 5. All of these created environments during the summer in Crater are planned to be used in the conference’s production, simulating a level in a video game, movie set, and TV studio (there is a high chance we will come up with a few more exciting additions).

Through these processes, the participants will be led by a team of mentors made up of experienced 3D/ Level artists that come to us from companies like Mad Head Games, Ubisoft Belgrade, Case 3D Proptech Solutions, Una TV and others alike. The project will be led by Dane Blačić, the Technical Director of this year’s CGA program, and the art direction will be done by Dimitrije Miljuš.

We have received numerous applications, and some of the participants arrived directly from courses: Environment Art, 3D Essentials and Unreal Engine Essentials. The chosen twelve were divided into 4 teams that have, by the time of writing this, already long started working on their designated projects. Each team consists of a 3D Modeler, Level Artist, as well as a Materials & Textures Artist. Three candidates that have especially blown us away with their applications, will be aiding the team in their work as mentoring assistants.

On Monday the participants started working on their environments, here is what Bojana Simić our program coordinator, had to say about all of this:

“The first week of Virtual Environments Lab is off to a great start and we are already seeing initial results. The participants entered this project more than ready and we firmly believe that, together with Dane and fellow mentors from the industry, they will successfully manage to create environments that will find their purpose in the upcoming CGA conference. We owe a big thank you to our industry partners that responded to our call, and we can’t wait to delve into their upcoming lectures. The fact that our participants will have a chance to find their future employers through this program makes us that much happier. Reinforcing the ecosystem and taking care of the industry’s talent is one of our main missions!”

The complete list of lecturers and mentors who will support our small virtual construction site with their expertise can be found here. We will keep you updated during the summer about the progress of this project, so make sure to stay tuned.

More information on the CGA conference coming soon!

Crater’s summer internship represents a simulation of a working environment guided by the mentorship of our studio’s colleagues. This way interns will get a chance to get familiar with the dynamic work processes in post-production, as well as how the team operates being a part of a larger studio. Some of them have already met on Friday where Bogdan Amidžić our VFX Supervisor, presented a breakdown of a few hand-picked projects Crater Studio has worked on.

This time group consisted of seven modelers as well as an animator. The majority of them signed up for the internship directly from our courses, or they found out about this opportunity through their faculties.

“When it comes to this group I anticipate that they will be satisfied, that they learn as much as possible, and perhaps even get hired by our studio. In the past couple of years, all of our groups performed well, got well together, and joined forces to contribute greatly to our passion project. I believe that for all of them, just like it was for me, the internship was a priceless experience and that it helped them understand the world of visual effects and their place in it.”, says Marija Rakić-Lovrić, our school’s coordinator and a former student of the 3D Essentials course.

After having successfully completed the internship at Crater, the best participants often receive a job offer in local studios. The fields range from post-production, video game development, and design, to other creative and advertising agencies. However, having our former students and successful interns stay and work at Crater Studio is not an uncommon occurrence either.

May the rest of the internship unfold in an equally good atmosphere.

This summer, the Environment Art course-goers will be awarded a unique learning experience in creating virtual environments for video games, film, and television called Virtual Environments Lab. The project is intended as a two-month prep process for the upcoming CGA conference, organized by the Crater Training Center.

The program will focus on the Unreal Engine 5 workflow and provide valuable knowledge in this area, both through lectures and specialized master classes, as well as through practical work on specific projects. Namely, all of the three environments created in Crater this summer will be used in the conference production. One of those will be simulating a level in a video game, the other will act as a movie set, and the third will work as a broadcast studio.

Throughout the program, participants will also have access to the mentoring support delivered by senior artists from the leading studios in the country. The Technical Director of this year’s CGA conference and Virtual Environments Lab is Dane Blačić (Mogul Digital), an experienced XR producer, creative broadcast director, and master of virtual production with vast experience working on international projects. Dimitrije Miljus, a senior illustrator and concept artist at the Hexworks game dev studio (currently developing the sequel to the cult fantasy RPG Lord of the Fallen) is the Lab’s Art Director.

Virtual Environments Lab is a logical continuation of the Environment Art course in our school, which kicks off on June 6. (Applications are still open!)

All the course-goers interested in enrolling in the Lab’s program will hold a position of Level Artists, as they will already acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform tasks in this role.

Read more about the Environment Art course and apply here.

CGA’s educational program on creating virtual environments will be held live in Crater Training Center from July 1 to August 27, 2022. Participation in the program includes mandatory lectures, masterclasses, and practical work under the mentorship of experienced professionals.

Afterward, the teams will test their final works in the studio and will be able to see how their creations interact with the actors and cameras in the production process. The final phase of the Virtual Environments Lab will be organized in September, ending before the CGA Belgrade conference.

Up to 12 artists will take part in the program, and a public competition is currently open for 3D modelers who would like to get involved in this unique educational experience.

Participation is free for all artists, with the obligatory presence during the entire duration of the program, every working day, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Click here to find out more about Virtual Environments Lab.

Crater Training Center is on the quest to find the best young artists and developers to join the upcoming Game Development Summer Internship Program. The internship will train young talents in game development while working on a unique project that tackles the history of X-rays!

Interns will be divided into two teams made of three members (Game Designer, Game Developer, and 2D Artist). Each team will design and develop a unique 2D game that should be ready for display at the exhibition dedicated to the X-ray development in Serbia. The event will take place at Belgrade’s Museum of Science and Technology in October 2021.

Winners of the Game Design Bootcamp by Nordeus Hub will lead the teams as Game Designers, while the Crater Training Center experts will choose the other participants. We are currently looking for two artists and two developers to apply for the program. Experience in Unity or Unreal Engine is required for developers, while proficiency in Photoshop or similar 2D programs is a must for artists.

Game Development Summer Internship is a great opportunity for beginners in gaming to gain valuable experience, but also to connect with mentors, other trainees, and industry seniors. Finally, after finishing the program, all participants will boost their portfolios with a truly unique project. In addition to this, interns will get a chance to see firsthand the process of creating a video game trailer by VFX experts from Crater.

Game Development Summer Internship Program will take place every working day from June 22 to August 22, 2021, in Crater Training Center (Knićaninova 3, Donji Dorćol, Belgrade). Participation in the program is free, and the organizers provide all the necessary technical equipment and mentors.

Applications are open until June 16. We will notify the most successful candidates about the outcome of the competition by June 18. If you wish to apply for the position for the internship but don’t speak Serbian, contact us via school@craterstudio.com.