Wednesday, August 27, 2003

WILMINGTON, NC – Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo and the Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington unveiled the new $400,000, 2,600-square-foot media production studio and classroom in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 27, in Lakeside Hall, Room 125.

Funding and financial support came from numerous sources including, Academic Affairs, Chancellor’s Office and Business Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication Studies and Public Service & Continuing Studies.

The studio was designed for classroom use and as a production “laboratory” for communication studies majors as the department formulates studio-produced programming. It will provide a production home for UNCW-TV, The Learning Network and Student Body Television (SBTV).

The studio can seat an audience of up to 30. It features fully integrated digital technology, including three digital studio cameras, a full complement of studio lighting, and the capacity to broadcast or switch live or live-to-tape. The studio has headset communication between the studio floor and the production control room. It also has the capacity to edit and dub in multiple, digital and analog formats. With CD and cassette audio support, the studio can playback sound to enhance live or post-production product.

In the past the Department of Communication Studies’ video production curriculum has been oriented toward field video production. The studio will provide students an in-house facility that will expand coursework and add a suite of classes for studio production, technical design and media writing. “It will provide students and faculty a ‘laboratory’ to put theory in action and practice their craft,” according to Communication Studies Department Chair Frank Trimble.

With the studio, UNCW students will be more prepared for off-campus internships, graduate study and professional careers. As a command center, the studio can serve production of programming across campus. Basketball games from Trask Coliseum can be directed and switched live from the Lakeside control room.

The performance studies curriculum will benefit from the studio by allowing students a flexible environment to explore literature and its performance in a way that cannot be achieved in traditional classrooms. The sound-proofed, isolated studio will enhance students’ ability to fully engage in a true “theatre” experience.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: For additional information or for a comment, please call Frank Trimble in the UNCW Department of Communication Studies at 910/962-7744.