AN EQUIPMENT OVERHAUL 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING
The dull buzz of the same lighting equipment has permeated our second-floor studios for over 50 years. For the first time this fall, that buzz will fade as these old lights are phased out and students begin using brand-new LED lighting kits in their productions.
These lights could have one of the most visible impacts on student production the department has ever seen. Gone are the days of blown fuses, tedious electrical patching, and flimsy color gels. Thanks to LED technology, students can now change the light colors with the touch of a button, adjust the brightness without altering the color temperature, and plug in numerous fixtures without overtaxing electrical systems.
Ensuring students learn with technology currently used in the industry is essential, but finding the right time to upgrade is difficult. “There’s always a challenge when you’re in an educational institution about when to upgrade because the opportunities for upgrading are limited,” said Erik Gunneson, who teaches many advanced production courses in Communication Arts. “We always have to find a sweet spot where the technology offers a lot at a good price, while serving us well for a long time.”
To supplement funding for projects like these, Communication Arts relies on Instructional Modernization Grants from the College of Letters and Science. These grants support department initiatives that enhance learning spaces and often enable the department to leverage support from donors to secure additional funds, effectively doubling the impact of each dollar.
Students will benefit from these updates immediately. The lights weigh much less and are packaged more concisely than the old ones, making them easier to transport between filming locations. They also use less energy and are significantly cooler, making them much safer for students to handle.
When selecting these new lights, Gunneson met with Communication Arts alumni like Noah Frassetto, Nina Ham, Paul Marschall, Corey Millikin, and Eric J. Nelson to see which lighting tools are currently being used in the industry. Gunneson then tagged Peter Sengstock, the Director of Media Services in Communication Arts, to join him for a visit to Red Star Rentals in Madison. Here, they enlisted the help of Tyler DeRaedt and Michael Hillson, two more Communication Arts alumni, to test out equipment and select fixtures to purchase.
“I’m excited to see what the students make,” Sengstock said when asked about what this update will mean for students. “Anytime we make advancements that give students more room for creativity, it’s always fun to see what they produce.”
The first student films utilizing this new equipment will premiere at the Communication Arts Showcase, hosted at the Marquee Theater in Union South on December 13, 2025, at 7pm. The event is free and open to the public, and we hope you can join us to see this bright new era of student films.