UCF's Studio 500 Brings Big Names, Bigger Opportunities to Orlando

By Christine Dellert and Todd Deery June 8, 2009

Photo: Courtesy of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy

UCF's Studio 500 has one of the largest motion-capture studios on the East Coast and an adjacent sound stage.

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Just down the hall from their classrooms, UCF students and faculty helped to choreograph and create the new Hannah Montana video game and have worked alongside celebrities such as Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter.

The University of Central Florida’s Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando features one of the largest motion-capture studios on the East Coast, an adjacent sound stage, production offices and editing suites. Collectively known as Studio 500 -- a play on the building’s 500 W. Livingston St. location -- the facilities have attracted a steady stream of entertainment companies from around the continent in the first 18 months of operation and have hosted more than 25 UCF student film shoots.

The complex provides students with invaluable production experience rarely offered on a university campus while bringing name recognition to Orlando’s booming simulation and entertainment industry.

Working with studio partner Vicon Entertainment’s House of Moves, faculty and staff from UCF’s graduate game-development program, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), typically operate the cameras and sensors in the motion-capture studio with assistance from students.

“Studio 500 provides our students and faculty with exceptional opportunities to work with the latest technology and collaborate with top professionals in the entertainment industry,” said Ben Noel, FIEA's executive director. "From making their own films to helping to create video games and commercials, students are gaining experience that makes them even more attractive to potential employers.”

In November, FIEA professor Ron Weaver helped choreograph and direct the dance routines for the new “Hannah Montana: The Movie” video game in the motion-capture studio with Orlando-based game developer n-Space. The game was released worldwide in April by Disney Interactive Studios.

Wearing body suits with small, reflective sensors, Weaver and a group of dancers were digitally captured spinning and kicking so that n-Space’s artists could perfectly recreate the body movements of Hannah and her dancers in the game. UCF cheerleaders also demonstrated throws and other acrobatic moves featured in the game.

Several FIEA grads helped to program and design the game as n-Space employees.

Other companies such as Electronic Arts, Rugged Entertainment, 360Ed, Ignition Entertainment and international advertising agency BBDO have rented the facility and its equipment. In March 2008, sports celebrities Woods, Jeter and Roger Federer filmed national commercials for Gillette in the studio.

“Studio 500 is bringing in big opportunities to Orlando,” said Suzy Spang, vice president of technology and entertainment for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. “It helps position Orlando as a technology and entertainment destination in industries as diverse as biotech and simulation to film and digital media and beyond.  All aspects of Orlando’s community are able to take advantage of this wonderful regional asset.”

In the summer of 2008, UCF film students worked on the set of the horror film “The Tenant,” which is scheduled to be released this year. The film, written and directed by Ric La Monte, includes several rooms and the hallways of a mental hospital that were built on Studio 500’s soundstage.

Wrapping this past month, Studio 500’s most recent project was the hip-hop feature film “Just Another Day.” Directed by the Oscar-nominated Peter Spirer (“Rhyme and Reason”) and co-produced by Ralph Clemente and his film crew from Valencia Community College, the film stars Jamie Hector of TV’s “The Wire” and features appearances by real-life rappers Ja Rule, Trick Daddy and Big Daddy Kane.  

For more on Studio 500 and a look at the facility’s past projects, visit www.cem.ucf.edu and click on "Studio 500" in the left column.

Watch Weaver’s work in the motion-capture studio on a Disney Channel behind-the-scenes commercial for the Hannah Montana game at www.cem.ucf.edu.

UCF Stands For Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 5th largest in the nation with more than 50,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information visit http://news.ucf.edu.
 

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