Chair

Professor Sue Brandt
Voorhees Building, room V-205
Phone: 718-260-5588

Description

The entertainment industry has grown tremendously in the last 30 years. As with film and theatre, the increasing prominence of the theme park, music concerts, malls and amusement, the use of immersive technologies in advertising and marketing, sporting events, and the expansion of cable and independent television has created an entirely new job market for technicians, managers, and designers. City Tech’s unique Entertainment Technology program is designed to address these changes and provide students with the specialized technical coursework that is required to work in a variety of professional environments.

The program seeks to provide highly competent graduates for careers as scenery, lighting, sound, video, and show systems technologists, technical and production managers, equipment marketing representatives, and personnel for distributors and rental houses in the entertainment industry. The program offers additional career options in the allied fields of film and television production; display design and construction; trade show exhibitions; club, casino and theme-park operations and all related performing arts production. Students desiring careers as designers or content creators can also benefit from the integrated technical and production components, and the degree provides a compelling stepping stone to more advanced design work at the graduate level.

Our faculty comes from a broad array of entertainment technology backgrounds, and all use their professional experience to train in our 40,000 square foot training laboratories and performance venues. Our labs have been stocked with state-of-the-art lighting, sound, show control, and video equipment thanks to substantial grants and generous support from the entertainment technology industry. Our lighting system laboratory is equipped with moving lights, state of the art consoles, visualization software, and gear. Our sound training facility features fully equipped audio workstations, along with state of the art live performance digital audio consoles, speakers, and microphones. Video includes HD cameras, switching equipment, and image presentation systems. A fully equipped performance venue dedicated to the Entertainment Technology Department allows students the ability to experiment within a live environment. There are two dedicated Emerging Media Technologies laboratories: one with the latest interactive media and software development environments, the other a state-of-the-art hardware development facility with rapid prototyping and 3D printers. Emerging Media students also have access to shared fabrication facilities that include laser cutters, large scale 3D printers, and CNC machines.

We collaborate with external producing organizations to develop technologically sophisticated productions, which allows students to experience the process of professional production with the support of expert faculty and mentors before they enter the high risk environment in the outside professional world.

Mission

The mission of the Entertainment Technology Department at New York City College of Technology is to educate our students for careers in the field of live entertainment.

Degrees

The department is structured to accommodate full- and part-time students of all ages. We serve beginners looking to break into the industry, as well as seasoned pros and IATSE Union members who would like to update their skills to keep up with the demands of new technology in this ever-accelerating market.

The Bachelor of Technology in Emerging Media Technology is an interdisciplinary program that integrates media design, computing, and engineering. The program provides comprehensive overviews and hands-on experiences in digital, tangible, and interactive media.

Bachelor of Technology in Entertainment Technology: The theme park, the arena concert, the trade show, the Broadway theater—all are venues for graduates of this baccalaureate program. The only one of its kind in the Northeast and one of the few in the world, the program trains students in cutting-edge technologies of sound, lighting, scenery, video, and show control.

Special Opportunities

Students benefit from studying in small classes under the guidance of professional, industry-oriented faculty, and learning in industry-standard facilities. New York City is an added resource to further enhance the dynamic and diversified course offerings. Student clubs are an important part of the study in the program and include:

City Tech Theatreworks: Each semester, students participate in one or more productions or workshops led by industry professionals.

The Stagecraft Club: Members attend guest lectures by industry specialists, manufacturer product demonstrations, and field trips to local shops and theatres.

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers Student Chapter: This national group provides students with the opportunity to meet industry leaders and professionals, and to interact outside of the classroom with other students and faculty who have an interest in the motion imaging industry.

Entertainment Technology alumni can be found in the professional live performance venues, in design, installation and manufacturing shops, in television and video/film concert venues, as well as working with many entertainment-related companies in their respective communities. Student technicians receive valuable training by participating in the lighting, sound, video, show systems, production, publicity, and scenery crews for performances each year. For further information, call 718.260.5588 at the Entertainment Technology office in Voorhees Hall.

City Tech E-Sports Club: The City Tech E-Sports Club brings students together who have an interest in gaming. The club aims to build a community where students can socialize, compete and express their passion for gaming. The club also seeks to compete at collegiate tournaments and host local competitive events.

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