NORFOLK, Neb. -- Wayne State College has unveiled a new state-of-the-art cinema production studio, designed to advance the careers of aspiring professionals in film, journalism, and sports media.

The facility features sound insulation, a green screen wall, an equipment room, a lighting truss system, and a dedicated stop motion animation space.

The previous TV studio at WSC was cramped and limited, catering only to students interested in sports, news, and film. The new addition provides film students with the opportunity to maximize their potential.

“Well, one of the things that we wanted to do is we wanted to have a safer environment than putting students on ladders,” said Dr. Mike White, WSC Film Advisor. “So with ladders, there's always the danger of falling. But now being able to lower the truss system, students can work on lights without having to get up on a ladder. Second, the green screen wall is a different type of green screen wall. We're going to add to these different hash markers so you can use computer programs like Unreal Engine that will allow us to make artificially generated environments that we can track using a green screen.”

The studio also includes sky panels that simulate outdoor environments, such as burning fires, lightning strikes, and moving clouds.

"In filmmaking, you need to create content that inspires you. Most people think, 'I need to go to L.A. or New York,' which isn’t always a bad idea,” said Pat Janssen, WSC Mass Communications Lecturer. “Students who attend here will learn to direct, write, and produce for their future in not only film, but plays, documentaries, and commercials. This new and improved studio will allow students a real opportunity to represent the Midwest here.”

For more information about the events, contact White, director of the WSC Film Program, at 402-375-7595.