Proposal

Narrative

The Theatre and Dance is partnering with the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies to create a classroom for virtual film, television, and theatre studio production. FAU does not have a space that allows students access to train and work in a film studio and there are no spaces on campus that can be scheduled for classroom work in a film studio. This proposal will equip the Studio II theatre with a 30 foot by 12 foot eyelash LED-wall volume, NovaStar rendering engine, camera system with star tracker feedback to the Unreal video engine for real time rendering of perspective video on the LED wall, media servers, and other equipment to operate the studio. We have specifically chosen the Studio II space as it has lighting and audio equipment support necessary to operate the virtual film studio, proper air conditioning and soundproofing necessary, and seating for 70 for live studio audiences or seating for classroom interactivity. This proposal brings state of the art production equipment (similar to the technology used in The Mandalorian) for students to design environments, film, and train with on our campus. We are partnering with a national production company, BrandStar, to design and install the system along with developing professional internships, mentorships, and production opportunities for students in design, content creation, studio operation, and postproduction. We envision opportunities for students to work with faculty and professionals in the field during their residency on campus, providing professional resume credit prior to leaving FAU. As virtual production transforms the film, television, and theatrical landscapes, this will afford every student at FAU an opportunity to work with industry standard equipment, develop professional credit and relationships with companies while completing degree programs at FAU. This positions FAU as a leader in virtual production with facilities and opportunities that no other SUS school can offer.

Facilities

Required upgrades 1. Keycard access. The overall room (AL 130) will need to be moved to swipe card access. One door can be configured for swipe card access and the remaining two doors can be configured to always locked doors. The production and storage booth will also need to be configured for swipe access to allow proper access control. 2. Internet backbone. We will need to install gigabit network access to the rendering engine computer and video server to allow for uploading/downloading of video files to/from the control room. 3. Power Service. There are existing 200 amp service panels available. Breakout outlets to service the equipment and Video wall will need to be installed (6 20 amp 120v circuits) adjacent to breaker panel 4. Sprinkler pipe rerouting. There is a section of sprinkler pipe that must be moved higher in the room to clear the wall.

Hardware Requirements

Mosys camera tacking, real-time compositor and rendering StarTracker Optical tracking sensor mounted to a studio camera, shines infrared light at small retro-reflective stickers (“stars”) randomly applied to the studio ceiling to define a ‘StarMap.’ The system remembers the StarMap and then reports the position and orientation of the studio camera in real time to the rendering engine. Tracking is unaffected by moving objects, set changes, lighting configurations, reflections and plain green screen environments because sensor looks up rather than looking into the scene. Mo-Sys VP Pro Real-time compositor, synchroniser, keyer, and recorder (for video and tracking data) that uses real- time camera and lens tracking data to create all types of virtual production content. Full suite of creative tools embed directly in Unreal Engine for augmented graphics, virtual sets, and MR. Designed for smallest system delay possible, typically 6-7 frames – ensuring XR shoots requiring real talent to interact with mocap AR avatars, are possible. Novastar Video Processor NovaStar’s flagship all-in-one video splicing processor, designed specifically for fine-pitch LED applications for a truly astonishing visual effect. This processor outputs data to the pixels on the LED screen Brainbar equipment manager PC running Mo-Sys Node renders linked to the Mo-Sys VP pro processor and the Novastar Video Processor

Software Requirements

None.

Personnel Costs

None.

Other Costs

None

Timeline

February 2023 Grant Award March 2023 Work orders for data, power, and room access initiated. March 2023 Engineering signoff on weight distribution of Video wall in space April 2023 Initiation of purchasing of video wall equipment May 2023 Strip lighting, sound, and curtains in space to prep for install May 2023 Workorders for paint and deep clean of room June 2023 Install of video wall July 2023 Commissioning of Video Wall System August 2023 (With Students) reinstall lighting and sound components in room September 2023 Student access to lab available January 2024 Classroom activities in lab can be scheduled

Sustainability

Theatre and Dance will maintain the physical environment of the space, including lighting and sound service, LED wall maintenance and repair. SCMS will manage camera equipment, repairs, and upgrades as needed over time. Equipment upgrades and repairs can be recovered through course equipment fees (typically in the $30-$40 per class range) to build reserves for pixel panel replacement or hardware issues. Software Tech fees can be used for software upgrades as need during the life of the project. Opportunities to rent the production facilities to key partners with Brandstar between semesters allows for development for new capital equipment purchases to upgrade cameras and other equipment

Resource Matching

BrandStar will provide ($270,000 donation) • 30 ft eyelash shaped wall (valued at $225,000) in kind donation • Installation, commissioning, and training (Valued at $45,000 in kind donation) The College of Arts and Letters will provide ($44,000 cost on non-technology based items) • Costs for rerouting Sprinkler line pipe (Estimated at $25,000 for engineering drawings, contractor services, inspections, and AHJ approvals) • Power service installs (Estimated at $5,000) for installing additional 20 amp outlets adjacent to the power panels located in the existing control room • Internet backbone (Estimate at $7,000) to provide gigabit service from telecom closet to control room “brain bar” for uploading of virtual environments and downloading raw video for editing • Keycard swipe access (Estimate at $7,000) to protect the screen surface in the classroom and controlled access to the production booth.

Implementing Organization

Theatre and Dance will be the implementing organization as the owner of the space. We will be able to coordinate trade services with physical plant for small project installations and repairs. BrandStar will install and commission the system to the college for use. No college personnel will be involved in system implementation until the commissioning handover and training.