PLATTSBURGH, NY – The students of the Communications Studies program at Plattsburgh State University recently unpacked new lighting destined for their upgraded production studio. Litepanels donated the lighting, which included Sola 6 focusable Fresnels and 1×1 panel lights.
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PLATTSBURGH, NY — The students of the Communications Studies program at Plattsburgh State University of New York in Plattsburgh, NY recently unpacked new lighting destined for their upgraded production studio. The lighting included the same Litepanels LED fixtures that are used in professional broadcast and television studios worldwide. Litepanels donated the the lighting, which included the Sola 6 focusable Fresnels and 1×1 panel lights.
“On behalf of the Department of Communication Studies and Plattsburg State Television (PSTV), I am excited to receive this gift from an alumnus,” says Dr. Shakuntala Rao, chairperson of the Communications Studies Program at SUNY Plattsburgh. “The lighting will be installed in Studio A of the Albert R. Montararo Television Studios. This studio is used extensively by our students to produce a variety of shows for PSTV. Good lighting is the foundation of good television. It enhances appeal, creates interest and commands audience attention. At the same time, it is not easy to achieve. And that is why we are excited to receive this cutting-edge high-end studio lighting which will give our students the opportunity to create effective and persuasive programming.”
“The Litepanels donation came at a perfect time for us,” says Jonathan Chew, Studios Manager for SUNY Plattsburgh. “With these lights we are able to reduce our carbon footprint. We will be able to replace 1000W quartz lighting with Litepanels 106W Sola 6 Fresnels and swapping out our monster 2000W quartz softboxes with several of the 45W 1×1 panel lights. We’re guaranteed to see a huge savings in power usage, and get higher-quality, more pleasant-to-the-eye lighting in the process.”
The Litepanels donation from Litepanels to upgrade the Albert Montanaro Jr. Television Studio is especially sweet for Chew. When he was a student at PSU in the 80s, he was one of Montanaro’s students. “He helped shape my life and I find it fitting that we are to use this donation of very high-end lighting for ‘his space’,” says Chew. “It’s a fitting tribute.”
Litepanels’ Chris Marchitelli, vice president of Global Marketing and a SUNY alumnus, worked with Chew to develop a lighting plot for this small studio, which features the school’s news/interview set. “At the moment, we are in the planning stages of this set,” says Chew. “However, I’m sure that the lights Chris carefully chose for us will fulfill all our needs on this important set where our students learn about the industry, and how to light and shoot effectively and quickly.”
SUNY’s Communications Department has around 400 students, nine full-time faculty members, and one television studio manager. The focus is to give professional training to students entering the broadcasting, radio, and increasingly important, web-based multimedia companies. The studio broadcasts four hours a day, seven days a week during the semesters, to surrounding communities via Channel 17 on the local Charter Cable. It is also used to record and broadcast news shows, sports and game shows.
“I am happy that Litepanels was able to donate lighting fixtures to Plattsburgh State University’s studio redesign,” says Marchitelli. “PSTV has great history of educating students on the latest technology and honoring the skills that turn technology into great television. Tomorrow’s media industry leaders will now have a venue to experience the latest LED lighting technology firsthand.”
