Vancouver Film School is pleased (and also teeming with excitement!) to announce that we’re bringing The Dragon Prince Co-Creator and cast to our campus for our next In-Production Bootcamp from May 2-4! Following our previous bootcamp with Actor/Emmy-winning Producer Gil Bellows, SPELLBOUND: The Animated Episode is a once-in-a-lifetime industry animation experience for actors, writers, & animators to work directly with the talent behind The Dragon Prince to create a short animated scene through animation, voice acting, and writing. Secure your spot here while you still can!
Netflix’s Emmy-winning The Dragon Prince has fast become a standout in animated television. Blending high fantasy storytelling with inclusive, character-driven narratives, the series’ richly diverse cast, cinematic visuals, and emotional depth have all contributed to its 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
We are honoured to welcome Co-Creator Justin Richmond, Omari Newton (‘Corvus’), Paula Burrows (‘Rayla’), Jesse Inocalla (‘Soren’), Jason Simpson (‘Lord Viren’), and Sasha Rojen (‘Ezran’) to our campus for this event!
The Dragon Prince Co-Creator Justin Richmond & select cast members will join us on-campus for VFS’s In-Production Bootcamp.IT ALL KICKS OFF WITH AN ‘ASK ME ANYTHING’…
VFS is thrilled to be hosting Co-Creator Justin Richmond as the next guest in our VFS Ask Me Anything series. Justin follows in the footsteps of industry greats like Kevin Smith, Emmy-nominated Hallmark Director Ron Oliver, and legendary actor Gil Bellows. Justin will dive into the origins of The Dragon Prince, how his background in games & TV shaped the show’s cinematic worldbuilding, and what it takes to create meaningful, inclusive fantasy storytelling in today’s media landscape.
VFS AMAs offer exclusive career & creative insights that only industry titans can provide! Justin follows in the footsteps of industry greats like Matthew Lillard and Emmy-winning Director Michael Spiller who have previously taken the stage for VFS’s AMAs. To get a glimpse of what you’ll experience at our upcoming bootcamp, watch Michael Spiller’s AMA Industry Talk as he examines in detail the working mechanism of a Hollywood comedy sitcom production:
…FOLLOWED BY A HANDS-ON BOOTCAMP
Our bootcamps truly bring the industry TO YOU! Based on your area of interest – acting, animation, or writing – you’ll participate in a hands-on workshop for direct knowledge & experience of how your role is involved in animation. You’ll also attend a panel discussion with The Dragon Prince cast as they discuss the art of voice acting, their experience on the show, and how to succeed as a voice actor in animation.
On the final day, everyone will come together to collaborate on a final, polished animated scene that showcases the original script with animated characters and voice acting performances. While there is not a workshop for directors, directors are encouraged to register, as they will be able to observe Justin throughout the process.
Actors:
- Omari Newton will lead you through an intensive voice acting workshop. Through the lens of the genre & style of The Dragon Prince, you will emerge with an understanding of how to build similarly dynamic, original characters through voice.
- Select actors will be chosen to voice characters during the animated scene on the final day of the bootcamp.
Animators:
- In a hands-on character design workshop in Vancouver, you’ll explore the unique genre animation style of The Dragon Prince while designing an original character animatic, with facial movement & expressions, in Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop, and Premiere.
- Select animators will be chosen on the final day of the bootcamp to turn this content into an animated scene for the voice actors’ performance.
Writers:
- In a hands-on writing for animation workshop, you will learn the unique style of writing for an animated show and will write a scene for two original characters that live in the world of The Dragon Prince.
- Select writers will be chosen to be part of the writing process of the animated scene on the final day of the bootcamp.
JUSTIN RICHMOND’S CAREER – FROM VIDEO GAMES TO TELEVISION
Get to know this amazingly-talented group of artists before the event, starting with Justin – Co-Creator of the show!
From Uncharted and League of Legends to The Dragon Prince, VFS alum Justin Richmond – in his own words – "helps make things awesome." As Executive Producer at Wonderstorm, Justin's goal is and always has been to tell great stories that are accessible to any audience without "dumbing it down."
He’s inspired by great fantasies and sci-fi epics, but also by taking hikes, traveling to new places, and hanging out with his family and seeing what they love. Justin is a huge gamer and loves playing board games and video games, especially The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
VFS’s In-Production Bootcamp events are your chance to gain hands-on experience in a variety of crafts from industry leaders – on-campus in Vancouver.AN INCREDIBLE LINEUP OF ACTORS
We’re so fortunate to be joined by such an experienced group of performers for our In-Production Bootcamp:
- Omari Newton (‘Corvus’) is an award-winning actor, writer, director, and Vancouver Film School’s Head of Acting/Co-Head of Film. He is best known for his work as “Black Panther” (in various Marvel IPs), Corner Gas Animated, Blue Mountain State, Continuum, and Far Cry 6.
- Paula Burrows (‘Rayla’) is a Canadian actor and graduate of Langara College's prestigious Studio 58. Known for her compelling performances and unique voice, Burrows has brought beloved animated characters to life.
- Jesse Inocalla (‘Soren’) is the voice of Marvel's “Spider-Ham” on Marvel Battleworld, and has additionally voiced numerous characters for Nintendo, Hasbro, CAPCOM, Sega, IGG, MyDearest, and many more.
- Jason Simpson (‘Lord Viren’) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles in Allegiance, The Fall of the House of Usher, Legends of Tomorrow, Lucifer, Arrow, League of Legends, and more.
- Sasha Zoey Rojen (‘Ezran’) is known for her roles in The Flash, Nancy Drew, Supergirl, Bates Motel, and iZombie. She also represented Team BC in competitive gymnastics in 2015, 2016, and 2017 at the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championship.
HOW TO REGISTER
If you’re an animator, writer, actor, or director looking to go behind the scenes of The Dragon Prince – look no further! But don’t wait – spots are extremely limited for this bootcamp. For full details and to register, click here.
FAQ
1. What is VFS’s The Dragon Prince Bootcamp?
This event is a 3-day, immersive experience where actors, animators, and writers, to learn from The Dragon Prince creators and collaborate to create an original animated scene. An Ask Me Anything (AMA) and an industry panel is also included.
2. Who will be attending from The Dragon Prince?
Co-Creator Justin Richmond and cast members Omari Newton, Paula Burrows, Jesse Inocalla, Jason Simpson, and Sasha Rojen will be on-campus to mentor and collaborate with participants.
3. When and where is the bootcamp happening?
The event runs from May 2-4, 2025, on-campus at Vancouver Film School.
4. What disciplines can participate?
Workshops are available for actors, animators, and writers. Directors are encouraged to attend and observe Justin’s directing process firsthand, while signing up for the workshop that most closely resembles their aspirations.
5. What will I be doing during the bootcamp?
- Actors: Voice acting workshop + potential character performance
- Animators: Character design + animatic creation
- Writers: Scene writing in The Dragon Prince universe
- Select participants will collaborate on a final animated scene
6. How can I register?
Spots are limited. Visit https://vfs.edu/content/in-production-bootcamp-dragon-prince to secure your seat and view full registration details.
7. Do I need prior experience in animation, acting, or writing?
No! While some familiarity with animation, writing, or acting is helpful, the bootcamp is designed for aspiring creatives who want to explore hands-on production with expert guidance.