OTC TV studio getting new look

Real-world experience is the best kind of experience students can get when learning about a profession. The OTC’s Electronic Media Production program is trying to bring some of that reality to its students.

A major makeover of EMP’s TV production studio is scheduled to take place with the addition of a professional news studio set that students will be able to use in its studio TV production class.

“We dreamed of doing an actual broadcast. That’s possible now with what we have,” said Jeff Johnson, one of the EMP instructors.

Before the makeover was planned, the students sat at a long non-descript table with chairs in front of a green screen that would allow them to show pictures and graphics behind them. Now, thanks to the Construction Technology program, a professional-looking set will be built starting this week for the EMP students to use.

“We had priced prefabricated sections, which were expensive. Construction technology did it at a fraction of the cost. It was a concrete project for the construction,” Johnson said.

While the EMP program doesn’t emphasize the talking portion of broadcasts, doing them allows the students to learn about running cameras, directing, sound and other basics they need to be able to work at television stations.

Johnson worked at KSPR, the Springfield Cardinals and an independent production company before coming to OTC. Dana Gambriel, another EMP instructor, worked with Johnson at KSPR.

“I’m very excited for the kids who will get the experience of working on a more professional set. It’s a great opportunity for everybody. We can simulate what it’s like in the real world,” Gambriel said.

The popularity of the program has been growing over the years thanks to increased interest in video and sound production. EMP now offers five sections of studio TV production classes. In addition, the program offers classes in 3-D animation, video game design, digital special effects and audio engineering.

“The addition of the news set will allow us to have some impressive esthetics to go along with the great equipment we already have,” Johnson said.