WILMINGTON — A new collaboration between the local community college and an area studio will provide film students expanded hands-on experience.
Cape Fear Community College has announced a partnership with Cinespace Studios, located on 23rd Street. Cinespace purchased the 10-stage EUE/Screen Gems in 2023 and the college’s film and video production technology program will start setting up shop on its active studio lot this fall.
Students will learn and train in a professional working studio environment, as the lot has housed numerous films and series in its 40-year history.
“This partnership transforms the student learning experience by placing our students inside the environment where professional filmmaking happens every day,” CFCC President Jim Morton said in a release. “Students won’t be just learning about the industry; they’ll be immersed in it.”
They will gain exposure to professional workflows, production environments, equipment, and industry expectations. Trainings will be offered for production assistants, grip and electrical rigging for stage, camera department operations, set lighting operations and special effects training.
“There’s no substitute for learning where the work actually happens,” Cinespace Studios Co-CEO Keith Gee said. “At Cinespace, we’re proud to create opportunities for students to train in and around active studio environments, gaining exposure to the people, departments, and production workflows that bring stories to life. Following our education partnerships in Chicago and Toronto, we’re thrilled to expand that commitment in Wilmington with Cape Fear Community College.”
Class sizes will remain the same though the college is growing the amount of cohorts and course sections as demand grows.
Cinespace currently partners with universities in Chicago and Toronto, but working with a local community college is the first collaboration of its kind for the company.
Cinespace Studios co-CEO Keith Gee said: “At Cinespace, we’re proud to create opportunities for students to train in and around active studio environments, gaining exposure to the people, departments, and production workflows that bring stories to life.
Aside from the film and video production, the CFCC carpentry classes also will begin utilizing the studio space this summer. It educates students on fundamental and advanced carpentry techniques used in residential and commercial settings, including safety practices, tool use, framing, measurement and layout, foundations, and construction methods.
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