WICHITA — Cody Wilson and Brayden Copp, two digital arts students at Wichita State University’s Shocker Studios, are taking imagination and special effects to the next level.
At this year’s Heritage Gala, the duo showcased their latest project, a synthetic scene featuring a graphic video projection on a white cloth that simulated two people having a conversation on a moving train.
Wilson and Copp both worked on the first production filmed on the university’s new LED volume wall at Shocker Studios, a state-of-the-art technology that uses LED screens to create virtual environments. The short narrative film, titled Bitter, was set in a cold Alaskan tundra, complete with artificial snow and atmospheric lighting.
“It was cool because it was a blend of all the concentrations at the school,” Wilson said. “It included writing, acting, game design, and physical design. It’s this weird mix of techniques — and it’s also a great way to get students involved with technology that’s not available at any other college in the Midwest right now.”
Wilson served as the project’s director, wrote the script, and assembled the production team. The synthetic environment was designed by Luke Samuelson, Shocker Studios’ LED volume technician. Samuelson, who is employed by the university, makes the facility accessible to all students interested in learning the technology.
“Luke’s the greatest, and he works really hard,” Copp said.
Both Wilson and Copp believe the college’s digital arts program holds untapped creative potential. They credit Shocker Studios for giving students the opportunity to act, write, produce, and design all within one collaborative space.
“The best thing about Shocker Studios is that we have an applied learning degree,” Copp said. “We don’t just talk about how films are made — we actually go out and make them. Bringing in a projector screen or setting up a shoot on the fly isn’t impossible for us. We’re used to adapting, and that’s what makes this place great.”
At the Heritage Gala, their display also paid homage to traditional projection techniques dating back over a century.
“It’s a super old technique, about as old as film itself,” Wilson said. “What we did here is basically a simple version of what filmmakers used to do back then. The difference is, what once took a huge production team can now be set up by two college students.”
Their project was created using Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D creation platform developed by Epic Games. The software allows artists and developers to design high-quality virtual environments for film, television, video games, and training simulations.
As the two look ahead, Copp hopes to land a production job in downtown Wichita, where he can continue developing his skills in framing and set design.
“I love the work that goes on behind the camera,” Copp said. “I’m learning so much at Shocker Studios, and I know the department provides incredible opportunities.”
Wilson currently works as an editing suite technician at Justin McClure Creative, a Wichita-based media production company and subdivision of Synthetic Arts, the firm that funded and built the LED volume. He plans to continue collaborating with local creative teams while pursuing his passion for virtual production.
With projects like Bitter and their Gala installation, both students are proving that Shocker Studios is not only preparing artists for the future — it’s helping them create it.
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