Community College readies students for HD production with new cameras

Bergen Community College, in Paramus, NJ, recently acquired three Hitachi SK-3020P HDTV studio/EFP cameras for its new production studio.

While the cameras are native HD, productions in the main studio are currently shot in SD because the facility’s switcher main control room is SD. When full HD production is required, Bergen Community College has the flexibility to switch the Hitachi SK-3020Ps through a new Thomson Grass Valley Kayak HD switcher in the students’ control room. Another Kayak HD switcher is on order for the main studio control room.

The main production studio and control room and an adjacent student production studio and control room comprise a new campus building designed to consolidate all arts and communications facilities under one roof.

The three Hitachi SK-3020Ps are primarily used to produce public affairs programs for cable TV, such as “Suburban Trends” and “Inside Bergen” — both of which focus on the workings of local government — and a half-hour series called “World Beats,” which studies the influence of music on world cultures. The main studio and control room are also booked occasionally by outside organizations, such as national networks.

The new cameras replaced four Hitachi Z-4000 SD cameras, which have since been moved to the student production studio. They are used to train the students in production skills as part of the broadcast television curriculum. Students also are often given the chance to operate the Hitachi SK-3020Ps cameras in the main studio.

For more information, visit www.hitachikokusai.us.