The UBC Department of Theatre and Film is pleased to announce a generous donation from NBCUniversal Canada to create a dual-purpose classroom and shooting studio on UBC’s Vancouver campus. Located in the Theatre and Film Production Building, the studio will provide young filmmakers with a dedicated space for filming on campus and enhance their ability to create innovative, entertaining, and thought-provoking films.
“Partnerships with industry leaders play a critical role in helping film students achieve success,” says Gage Averill, dean of UBC’s Faculty of Arts. “We are thrilled to work with NBCUniversal to provide practical, hands-on experiences that provide students with a competitive edge after graduation and prepare them for the professional arena.”
NBCUniversal’s gift will be used to renovate an existing classroom and equip it with lighting, video, and special effects gear, along with physical upgrades to control external light and sound. These valuable resources will increase opportunities for film production students to develop the specific skills needed for studio-based shooting and better prepare them for careers in the film industry.
“This is an exciting time in the film industry, and NBCUniversal Canada is proud to partner with UBC to help students enter the field and thrive,” stated Wanda Bradley, VP, Sales, NBCUniversal Canada.
As one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies, NBCUniversal has strengthened film and television production across Canada. UBC is proud to partner with NBCUniversal to support future filmmakers and looks forward to the renovated studio in Fall 2015.
BACKGROUND
NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
Bruce Sweeney and Nicole Yukiko Sekiya on the set of Mercury Falling; the first feature created by the Department of Theatre and Film. Photo by Shan Fu.
