The Great Wall of Media Arts
MTSU’s Department of Media Arts is one of the few university programs in the world to teach design and technology for large-scale video installations. MTSU’s proximity to the concert touring industry based in Nashville has given the school a unique geographic advantage to develop relationships with the industry and its employers. As a result, MTSU has become a leader in workforce development for this new phenomenon.
Large-scale video installations have become de rigueur for major (and minor) concert events; awards shows like the Oscars, Emmys, and CMAs; the Super Bowl halftime show; and live television shows like Dancing with the Stars and Americas Got Talent. These giant video screens have also been revolutionizing set design for live theater.
MTSU’s Media Arts department first got involved with large scale video in 2012 with Nashville’s DWP Live, a leader in the 3D video projection mapping industry. The company loaned the necessary gear to MTSU and within months it had hired several recent graduates who had trained on the equipment.
In 2014, several Media Arts alumni were working at VER in Nashville and approached MTSU to help develop a talent pool for working in the field of large-scale LED video walls. VER loaned the necessary gear to MTSU and since then over 200 MTSU students have trained to work with video wall installations and an estimated 100+ are currently working in this exciting field.
One such success story is Tyler Shapard who graduated in 2015 and has been employed by the band Twenty One Pilots since 2016. Tyler’s job title is Lighting Director, and he manages the band’s media and lighting setup as they travel the world performing live shows. Tyler has also hired six of his former classmates as his crew to put on the very complex performance. The show includes an LED video wall, 3D projection mapping, robotic lights, prerecorded video, and live video. It all comes together in a spectacular live performance by the band as they perform their top hits across the USA and Europe.
Students learn about LED video wall production under the direction of adjunct instructor Mike Forbes who teaches media technology classes and also serves as Assistant Director of Technical Systems for the Media Arts department. Mike graduated from the department in 2008 and immediately started a career in live concert touring production working for top acts such as Toby Keith, Dolly Parton, Jason Aldean, Univision, and Brooks & Dunn. After giving up life on the road to start a family, Mike joined the department in 2012 and has brought his professional industry experience into the classroom. He brings a combination of creativity, technical expertise and current industry knowledge to his students.
Mike’s classes have designed and built approximately 25 video wall installations, and average about three per semester. Their work includes designing the installations, actually building the installations, creating content for the walls, and synchronizing the content with live performances. Some of their credits include Ludacris, Young the Giant, Blackbear, and Icona Pop.
Students learn about LED video wall technology as part of the curriculum in the Live Production concentration of MTSU’s Video and Film Production degree program. This program exists within the Department of Media Arts in the College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University.