For a while there, it seemed like nothing would ever again inhabit the cavernous Gastown space built for the ill-fated tourist attraction, Storyeum. Creative minds suggested re-purposing it as a bowling alley, a movie theatre, and a homeless shelter, but all plans were scrapped. As recently as a few years ago, Storyeum seemed destined to remain a tomb.
Enter the Vancouver Film School. When it first cast its gaze upon the 100,000-square-foot facility, its 3D animation and visual effects department was outgrowing its leased space in a downtown office building. "This space was ideal for us because it was a big blank canvas, and we were able to design in some amazing things that make the educational experience so much better," said Marty Hasselbach, VFS' managing director, during a recent tour of the campus. "We really tried to emulate a studio environment."
The new animation campus quietly opened its doors to 300 students on August 26. It occupies roughly 44,000 square feet of the facility — more than double what it had in its previous location — and is accessed from Cordova Street. Even more spacious are the downstairs and Water Street portions which, when fully constructed, will be used by the film program and contain 10 black box sound stages and a green screen studio. (Phase two is scheduled to be complete by mid-December.)
As in most animation studios (but few schools), there's a tricked-out chill-out lounge with computer stations, comfortable furniture, and foosball tables. "They work hard, they play hard," said Hasselbach. "You're here long, long hours, and this gets you ready for the long hours of the industry." Students can store their two-wheeled rides in a designated bike room and feast in a spacious lunchroom. Where the Storyeum elevators once lowered visitors down into the performance space, there are two 72-seat theatres.
Classrooms were designed with the programs in mind. "We've been delivering the programs for so long, we figured out what we did and didn't want to have in facilities," said Hasselbach. Air conditioning units are located in hallways so that the classrooms are quiet. Courtesy plugs are available at every station (you don't need to crawl under your desk to plug in your phone). The facility is illuminated by LED lights, many dimmable. The life-drawing room comes complete with a change room for the models.
The long white corridors are lined by dozens of posters from blockbuster films. Each one is accompanied by a display card listing the VFS alumni who worked on the project. 2013's Elysium — written and directed by VFS alumni Neill Blomkamp — featured the work of 76 grads.
Perhaps the most stunning example of VFS's effort to emulate an animation studio is the large, dimly lit room outfitted with dozens of work stations. In this studio — which could easily be mistaken for any blue chip studio around town — students take their final projects through the various stages of animation and VFX production. "We know what employers need, because we've been doing this for a long time and so many of our instructors are industry vets," said Hasselbach. "This is the best way to deliver the education."
