Television / Video Studio, Classrooms, and Resources
The introductory and advanced video production classes are offered in a large television/video studio (M122) with adjacent editing suite (M121). Students in these classes learn to use DSLR and HD cameras, lighting, audio, switcher/fader, and Premiere Pro non-linear editing. The studio and editing suite are also available at designated times so that students can work on their projects outside of class time. Classes in film history and criticism are offered in a classroom equipped for large-screen projection in 16mm and digital formats. Our media history and issues courses meet in a "Smart Room" that is equipped with PC and Smart Board for Power Point presentations, live Internet connection, and DVD and digital projection.
Students also have access to a screening venue where they can view their projects—from work-in-progress to final cut—on a large screen. The screening room is also used for visits by filmmakers and industry professionals who are invited to LaGuardia to screen their work, talk with classes, and critique student work.
The college's Media Resources Center has a collection of nearly 2,000 films on DVD and VHS. These include nearly all films screened in classes, which students may review on their own at individual viewing stations free of charge. In addition, the Center's Streaming Media Project offers feature films, screened in classes and other films in the collection that are available for viewing on campus for free. The Media Resources Center is located in the LaGuardia College Library, room E101.
Video and Multimedia Labs
The editing lab in M121, along with the television/video studio in M122, serve as the central hub for the Film and Television program. In M121 we have 26 new 27" imac 3.4 Ghz Intel Core i7 workstations that are available for current students and alumni to utilize. Each workstation is equipped with the following software:
- Adobe Creative Cloud Video Production Suite (which includes After Effects, Premiere Pro, Speed Grade, Audition, Encore, On Location)
- Adobe Creative Cloud Web Production Suite (which includes Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator)
- Apple Final Cut Studio 3 Suite and Final Cut X (which includes Final Cut Pro, Motion Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Color)
- Apple iLife Suite (which includes iMovie, iDVD, and Garageband)
- Open Source and freeware programs for Film, Multimedia, and 3D design (which includes Unreal Engine 4, Blender 3D, Celtx, Audacity, Bryce 5.5, and Daz Studio)
- Web Programming Software (which include PHP, Flex Builder 3 and Coldfusion)
- Cameras and Other Equipment
- Blackmagic 4K Production Camera, Canon DSLR, GoPro Cameras, Canon camcorders
- Doorway Dolly, Glidecam, Omni Light Kits, Green Screen Studio
- Sennheiser wireless lavalier microphones, Rode shotgun microphones.
Tom Seymour is the College Lab Technician (CLT). Tom and his staff are on hand to offer technical assistance and support, as well as valuable advice drawn from their own professional experience in film, video, Internet, and television. New Media Technology students also have access to the same technology in the multimedia lab in room E 301. Tom can be contacted at tseymour@lagcc.cuny.edu or 718-482-5675.
Hours
Regular lab hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and Saturday hours are also available to day and extended day students.
Access
Priority is given to students currently enrolled in Film and Television, New Media Technology, and Digital Media Arts Certificate courses so that they are able to fulfill required class assignments.
We also heartily encourage Film and Television and New Media Technology majors and Certificate students to take advantage of open lab hours. The capabilities of editing and screenwriting software are vast. What you learn in the classroom is a great start, but that’s just the beginning. There is no limit to what you can learn-by-doing on your own. Here’s another good reason to use the lab as much as you can -- access to the same hardware and software that is available to you for free in our lab, would cost you hundreds of dollars in for-profit courses or in rental fees at post-houses.
Access to lab hardware and software is based on the following guidelines. Qualified students must be one of the following:
- Students currently enrolled in a course in the Film and Television or New Media Technology curriculum, or Digital Media Arts program
- Students who have successfully completed the Video Production Workshop or Internet Video class
- Students who can demonstrate to the CLT their familiarity with the software they wish to use
- Students who have successfully completed a tutorial workshop offered by a member of the lab staff, and can demonstrate to the CLT their familiarity with the software they wish to use.
For students who do not meet any of the qualifications listed above, on-line tutorials are available in the lab. On-line tutorials offer basic training in various software applications. After completing the tutorial, students can then reserve time to work on their own if they can demonstrate to the CLT their familiarity with the software they wish to use.
Using the Lab
The lab schedule varies from term to term, based on the number of classes that are taught in M 121, and in the studio, M 122. A lab schedule for each term will be posted in the lab and online. Certain days and times are reserved for classes, and, toward the end of the term, are reserved for students who are completing final projects for those classes.
All other times are Open Lab Hours. Any student who fulfills any of the guidelines listed above, can – and should – use the lab for class projects, for continuing work on a class project to be screened at the June student film festival, or for pursuing a personal creative project.
Lab users should come prepared with their own hard drives. Storage on the lab’s computers is limited, and the drives must be cleared on a regular basis. Storing data on your own drive insures that your hard work will be safe and portable. Students who wish to transfer their projects to DVD should bring their own blank DVD discs.
Using the Studio
Students who meet the qualifications for access to open lab are also qualified to reserve time to stage and shoot productions in the video studio. Access to the video studio is limited because the space is shared with another program, so advance planning is required. Discuss your request with lab supervisor, Tom Seymour, before reserving time at: tseymour@lagcc.cuny.edu