
Connell Pavey, co-programme leader for the University of Salford's new course in motion capture technology tells TVBEurope how his passion for creativity led to becoming a teacher
By Contributor
Published: October 4, 2024 Updated: October 7, 2024
Connell Pavey, co-programme leader for the University of Salford's new course in motion capture technology tells TVBEurope how his passion for creativity led to becoming a teacher
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Connell Pavey, co-programme leader for the University of Salford's new course in motion capture technology tells TVBEurope how his passion for creativity led to becoming a teacher
https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/people/meet-the-motion-capture-technology-co-programme-leader title=Share via Email class=share-email>
Talk us through an average day in your role My role at the University of Salford is quite dynamic, which is something I truly enjoy. I am currently part of a two-person team that manages the Motion Capture space within the School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology. This space is used by students across various disciplines performance, animation, dance, and games design. Ranging from undergraduate to postgraduate levels, including MA, MSc, and PhD students.
Connell Pavey, co-programme leader, motion capture technology at the University of Salford Our day-to-day work revolves around responding to the evolving needs of our students. We guide them through the intricacies of motion capture, helping them not only understand the technology but also apply it in ways that enhance their creative projects. Whether it's through capturing movement for animation or performance-based projects, we ensure they gain practical experience and leave with a deep understanding of how to leverage this technology.
When we're not directly supporting students, we focus on innovating and improving the ways our motion capture space can serve them better. We actively gather feedback and use it to develop new techniques and applications for the technology. Recently, we've collaborated with other university colleagues on a project that integrates motion capture with medical simulation. We ran a pilot project for a virtual patient system, where a simulated patient is controlled in real-time via motion capture and an iPhone for face tracking which allowed medical students to interact with the virtual patient, diagnosing ailments as part of their practical training.
How did you get started in the media industry? My journey into the media industry began during my time at university. I attended a masterclass led by the head of an independent film company, and I seized the opportunity to reach out afterward, which led to me working on their projects. The company specialised in low-budget horror feature films and heavy metal music videos, an ideal fit for me at the time!
Armed with nothing more than a basic SLR camera, some builders' lights, and a whole lot of enthusiasm, we set out to create. It was a small, tight-knit team, so I had the chance to explore various aspects of production, from cinematography to visual effects. One memorable experience was playing a creature in one of our films, spending a sweltering summer night running around in a heavy overcoat and rebreather as a demonic miner.
Although the days were long and the pay was minimal, the experience of working in eerie, unusual locations with total creative freedom was priceless. It was a fast-paced, high-energy environment where we could experiment and push boundaries, and I loved every moment of it!
What training did you have before entering the industry?
Before pursuing my degree, I worked in IT as a technician from the age of 18. I had always loved film and visual effects, but I tried to take a more pragmatic approach to my career by focusing on technology, a field where I excelled. While I enjoyed the technical aspects of IT, I quickly found it lacked the creativity I craved, and I began feeling unfulfilled.
Seeking another path, I initially enrolled in a course to teach English to speakers of other languages, alongside learning Japanese. My thought process was that having a second language would open up opportunities for travel, and teaching would allow me to work anywhere in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed learning Japanese, and teaching became a passion of mine. Watching students come to life when they grasped new concepts was incredibly rewarding, and I found great satisfaction in helping others learn. However, during this period, I experienced a personal loss, the death of a close friend, which led me to take time to reflect deeply on my life and career. I realised that while I had enjoyed certain aspects of my previous paths, I had never truly taken the leap to pursue my passion: film.
That moment of reflection was a turning point. I decided to take a gamble and enrolled in a degree in film production and media technology, chasing what I truly loved. My time at university gave me two invaluable things. First, it gave me the time and space to practice, research, and immerse myself in the skills I was developing. Second, it introduced me to a network of peers, people I could collaborate with, who helped me develop my ideas and challenged my ways of working, just as I did for them. This collaborative environment was essential for my growth, and I continue to value the power of teamwork and shared creativity.
Why do you enjoy working in the industry? Creativity, first and foremost. Even though my work involves technology, every interaction with students and academic staff is a creative process. We take the time to understand their goals and aspirations within the motion capture space, and from there, we develop engaging learning materials. Our process involves bringing students into a Game Engine in real
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
26/03/2026
Extron and Audio-Technica have announced that their Design Solutions devices, Ce...
26/03/2026
SPORTEL Asia took place March 24-25 at the Orchard Hotel Singapore, drawing 370 participants representing more than 220 companies from 35 countries. Approximate...
26/03/2026
LTN will demonstrate satellite-to-IP migration solutions for broadcasters, cable networks, MVPDs, and station groups at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2100).
The C-Ban...
26/03/2026
The Seattle Mariners have partnered with Daktronics to install an upgraded outfi...
26/03/2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has awarded National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esp...
26/03/2026
Telestream has announced expanded integration between its Vantage workflow platf...
26/03/2026
FOR-A Corporation has announced a partnership with Nippon TV and NVIDIA to distr...
26/03/2026
CBS Sports and the WNBA have expanded their partnership through a new long-term, multiplatform rights agreement. CBS Sports will feature up to 20 regular-season...
26/03/2026
Zac Brown Band will star in the Sunday Night Baseball show open on NBC and Peacock, NBC Sports announced. The open was filmed at American Family Field, home of ...
26/03/2026
Major League Baseball opens the 2026 season with nationally televised games across multiple media partners. Fans can visit MLB.com/Watch for a complete schedule...
26/03/2026
DIRECTV has announced an agreement to carry nine new MLB-operated team channels, covering the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers (Detroit SportsNet), Kansas City R...
26/03/2026
Nationals.TV, the Washington Nationals' local broadcast channel, is now avai...
26/03/2026
Starting Thursday, March 26, MLB.TV will be available on the ESPN App, giving fans access to more than 2,000 out-of-market regular season games. Fans can also r...
26/03/2026
Spotify's partnership with NAVER, Korea's leading digital platform, is built around one simple goal: making it easier for listeners in Korea to discover...
26/03/2026
Exclusive to ComposerCloud for first month
Sample library and virtual instrument gurus EastWest have announced the upcoming release of a new virtual drum i...
26/03/2026
Friday 27 March
Friday 27 March will mark Dynamic Range Day 2026, the annual day of online activity that was started in 2010 by mastering engineer Ian Sheph...
26/03/2026
Includes four separate instruments
Max Richter's SRM Sounds venture have just announced their fifth release, ASMR Choir. Captured at the main live room ...
26/03/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), has been tasked with administering the Sixth Presi...
26/03/2026
By Matt Klein
Hello to everyone reading this - whether you're a current YEP, HPA member, or just YEP-curious. I'm Matt Klein, one of the co-chairs of t...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
28 participating companies, from start-ups to blue-chips, lead the UK Group as part of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland presence across all the Halls at N...
26/03/2026
Arkona Unveils BLADE//planner and Major Usability Enhancements at NAB 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
New graphical configuration tool and...
26/03/2026
Bitfocus showcases complete control at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
Continuing development drives advances in security, availa...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Nevion introduces powerful new Panel Builder to enhance VideoIPath broadcast con...
26/03/2026
2026 Oscar Nominated Films Powered by Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton March 25, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio used on 27 of this year's no...
26/03/2026
Leader to present full suite of advanced Test & Measurement solutions at NAB Sho...
26/03/2026
Boston Conservatory to Present New England and Collegiate Premiere of Groundbrea...
26/03/2026
Thursday 26 March 2026
HBO Max included for Sky and NOW customers from 26 March...
26/03/2026
Thursday 26 March 2026
Sky Sets Iconic Costumes Dancing Together Like Never Before' in Brand CampaignTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy o...
26/03/2026
Wuppertal March 26, 2026
CS live Builds Future-Ready OB Van With Riedel MediorNet and hi Control SystemRiedel Communications today announced that Czech-based ...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
Have a Wish Worth Dying For? Netflix's First Korean YA Hor...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
The Truthers, Starring Jose Coronado and St phanie Magnin, Pre...
26/03/2026
Enhancements to Harmonic's Sports Streaming Solution Introduce Server-Side Multiview, Contextual Metadata-Driven Advertising, Dynamic In-Stream Ads and Robu...
26/03/2026
Open the report
Our 2025 report brings together results from 79 business magazine titles across 22 market sectors, published by 49 media owners. Over the year,...
26/03/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
26/03/2026
RT Commercial today announced Fiat as sponsor of The Louise Duffy Show on RT Radio 1, Weekdays 3pm 4pm.
The Louise Duffy Show is the home of daytime music...
26/03/2026
That gaming backlog won't clear itself - GeForce NOW is here to help. Stream the latest titles straight from the cloud across a variety of devices.
This we...
26/03/2026
Wayne, N.J., March 26, 2026 Phantom High-Speed announces the latest product li...