Step into the evolving intersection of performance, creature work, and visual effects in this intensive, advanced training program for emerging to mid-career actors, performers, puppeteers, and VFX artists.
Led by Derek Arnold, Animatronic and Performance Choreographer for Lucasfilm UK (credits include Project Hail Mary, Digger, Andor, Rogue One), this intensive training program immerses participants in the creative and technical workflows that connect performance, creature work, and visual effects. Joined by a senior industry visual effects professional with extensive experience across feature film and television productions, participants will work in Banff Centre's 2,500-square-foot green screen studio to explore practical puppetry, CGI character integration, pre-visualization, ADR, and contemporary production-to-post pipelines while creating original screen content in a professional studio environment.
Description
Throughout this program participants will:
- Apply professional puppeteering techniques using rod, wire, practical, and reference puppets for feature film and television production.
- Perform effectively alongside practical and digital characters while understanding the unique requirements of VFX-driven productions.
- Integrate puppetry performance with CGI character workflows, visual effects pipelines, studio environments and location-based filming.
- Develop and execute pre-visualization strategies to support performance, camera planning, and visual storytelling.
- Plan and execute green screen production workflows from pre-production through principal photography and post-production.
- Create original screen content that demonstrates the integration of practical performance, puppetry, and visual effects techniques.
Scholarships are available.
Application Deadline January 06, 2027
Program Dates May 10, 2027 - May 21, 2027
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
This program is intended for early and mid-career actors, performers, puppeteers, and VFX artists who already possess foundational experience in their respective disciplines and are seeking advanced, intensive training. The program is not intended as introductory training and is designed for artists ready to take a significant next step in their professional practice.
Participants should be prepared to work collaboratively in a production environment and engage with industry-level workflows that bridge practical performance and digital production techniques.
Requirements for all participants include:
- Demonstrated experience in film, television, animation, games, immersive media, live performance, or related creative industries.
- Interest in the intersection of practical performance, puppetry, creature work, and visual effects.
- Ability to work in intensive, team-based production environments.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Willingness to participate in both performance-based and technical exercises.
- Basic understanding of film set etiquette and production workflows.
- Capacity to engage in a fast-paced, project-based learning environment.
Participants must be available to attend the program and elements for its entire duration; variable participation dates will not be considered.
Total Program Fee $5 521.95
Banff Centre Arts Scholarship $3 024.00
Participant Cost * $2 497.95
Application Fee
$65 for individuals, $35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous.
This non-refundable fee covers the full cost of processing your application, including the SlideRoom fee.
We are pleased to offer a range of scholarships to support participants in our programs.
- Banff Centre Arts Scholarship
Program participants receive a Banff Centre Arts Scholarship that covers the cost of tuition only.
*Participant costs shown above reflect the cost after the scholarship has been applied. To be eligible for Banff Centre scholarship, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
- Canadian Indigenous Arts Scholarship
Canadian Indigenous Arts applicants receive a scholarship that covers the full cost of tuition, accommodation and meals.