Studio's Notable Success: Exceptional Grades Earned
BrandStar Studios @ Florida Atlantic University Opens, Offering Cutting-edge Media Opportunities
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, has partnered with BrandStar, a full-service advertising agency, to create a state-of-the-art virtual production studio. This collaboration, named BrandStar Studios @ Florida Atlantic, offers a unique blend of academic resources and industry expertise, providing students with valuable hands-on experience and real-world skills.
The new facility, which opened in March, is equipped with advanced technology, including an LED Volume Wall and ICVFX systems, donated and deployed by BrandStar. This technology enables a mixed reality set with physical and virtual props matching in a three-dimensional perspective, offering a more immersive and innovative production experience.
The partnership provides FAU students with direct exposure to brand development, marketing strategies, and content creation processes, enhancing their practical skills beyond classroom theory. Students can engage in projects and productions at BrandStar Studio II Theatre and other studio spaces, gaining essential experience for media careers such as video storytelling, digital broadcast, and brand marketing campaigns.
Moreover, the partnership creates pathways for students and emerging professionals to connect with industry leaders, potentially leading to internships, mentorships, and job opportunities in the competitive media and entertainment sectors centered around South Florida.
The technology also enables post-production adjustments during shooting, creating a closer collaboration between production and post-production teams. This approach streamlines the production process and allows for more creative freedom and efficiency.
Carol Bishop Mills, Ph.D., director of FAU's School of Communication & Multimedia Studies, oversees three main degree tracks: Communications Studies, Film and Media, and Multimedia Journalism. She emphasizes the importance of this partnership in developing the next generation of media professionals, stating, "This collaboration bridges academic preparation with industry realities, equipping our students with comprehensive skills, experiential learning, and strategic connections to succeed after graduation."
BrandStar's donation to FAU is driven by community and new talent development, aiming to keep production talent in Florida and develop its own pipeline of employees. The company's significant year-round internship program, with many interns continuing on as full-time employees once they've graduated, is a testament to this commitment.
The integration of virtual production technology into FAU's facilities follows the lead of BrandStar Studios, which built its own LED Volume Wall for a more cost-effective approach to production. The company has also partnered with Mo-Sys for in-camera motion tracking and Unreal Engine software integration to further enhance the studio's capabilities.
This partnership extends beyond the animation, gaming, and film industries, with potential applications in sports broadcasting and theatre in the future. The first LED Wall constructed by BrandStar was 1.9mm thick, allowing for close proximity to the wall, making it suitable for a variety of productions.
By aligning a respected local digital marketing agency with a university media hub, the partnership can elevate the regional media and entertainment industry’s profile, attracting more investment, talent, and media projects to the area. This collaboration between BrandStar and FAU is set to transform the landscape of media and entertainment education and career opportunities in South Florida.
- This collaboration between BrandStar and Florida Atlantic University, named BrandStar Studios @ FAU, combines education-and-self-development resources with industry-level technology and expertise, offering students the opportunity to learn about business, lifestyle, technology, and more, by working on real-world projects in media careers such as video storytelling and brand marketing campaigns.
- As the partnership expands, potential applications of the advanced technology used in the studio could extend beyond animation, gaming, and film industries, reaching industries like sports broadcasting and theatre, creating a broader range of learning and career opportunities in the fields of technology, education-and-self-development, business, and lifestyle.
