There’s always a deadline, there’s never enough budget, and somewhere in between, we make magic happen.
When Penn State and Ma & Pa Pictures needed a custom chroma-key cyclorama, Jeremy Wright, Rod Bingaman and I got together and built an amazing, custom, solution in some renovated office space. When that small soundstage needed to move in summer 2021, I disassembled that cyc-wall, studio grid, lighting DMX control system, recycled and salvaged components, and got us out in just two days!
Then came the ever-evolving project of customizing, improving and maintaining the newly built Soundstage in Penn State’s Bellisario Media Center. Next you’ll find pictures of the older, renovated office space, then images in the newer soundstage in the Bellisario Media Center follow.
After leaving the converted office space behind, I continue to improve the soundstage in it’s new home in the Bellisario Media Center. Two stories tall, our lighting grid integrates a custom Arri Skypanel layout using DMX, and wireless control via app. I designed and installed a separate wireless hoist system featuring ten points of lift, each with a single line capacity of 900lbs. The space also features our Egripment Scanner Elite Crane boasting a telescoping arm that can carry 55lbs across a 17.5’ length, on top of it’s mobile dolly platform. This system also uses wireless lens control by Tilta, and wireless video monitoring by Atomos and Teradek. The soundstage is home to custom scenic flats that I designed and built to be ultra lightweight, inexpensive, and durable in an educational environment.
