Wednesday, August 29, 2001

RTVF students to gain from new technology
By Jill Sutton
staff reporter

Students in the radio-TV-film department starts the year with the addition of $750,000 worth of new technology.

Roger Cooper, chair of the radio-TV-film department, said the new equipment is long overdue.

“The old equipment was here when I got to TCU, and I think it has been at least 15 years since we began using the equipment,” he said.

The department will be setting up two digital television studios, a digital audio lab with 12 new computers, including an instructor’s station, and will be expanding the film library to larger rooms for more convenient student and faculty use.

LaVar Veale, a senior theatre and radio-TV-film major, said he is glad these changes are coming before he leaves TCU.

“I think these changes are a great idea,” Veale said. “Now we will have experience with the type of equipment that is being used in Hollywood. Instead of starting a job by having to learn everything, we can relate right away and not be on the back-burner.”

Cooper said the equipment will be arriving in the next few weeks, and all of the additions are funded by the university. Cooper said the large price can be deceiving at first glance.

“We got a big bang for our buck,” said Cooper.

Charles LaMendola, a radio-TV-film professor, said purchasing so much equipment at once actually saved the department money. “ We purchased all Sony equipment because it is a very well-known brand, and by buying in bulk, we got discounted prices,” LaMendola said.

The faculty is excited about what the new upgrade to the program will do to elevate the students in the department, Cooper said.

“These improvements will move us to a different level,” he said. “This is an area of study that is always changing. This can be exciting and scary, but now we will be prepared in the professional workforce.”

Improved facilities will give students a decided edge as they graduate and enter the competitive field in Hollywood, LaMendola said.

“The bulk of the money went to the studios,” LaMendola said. “They will emulate how it is done in Hollywood, and give students an opportunity to see how it is done in a Hollywood sitcom.”

LaMendola said the radio-TV-film program has changed their slant on how students will learn.

“Before, we set it up like a traditional, local studio,” LaMendola said. “Now, it will be a different look and philosophy that will let students see how it is done in Los Angeles.”

Jill Sutton
j.m.sutton@student.tcu.edu