wotimes.com

Students at the Digital Animation and Visual Effects (DAVE) School in Dr. Phillips celebrated their graduation last week with the unveiling of their latest work, which took the school where it has never gone before.

As their final project, DAVE School students created the computer animation and visual effects used in an episode of Star Trek New Voyages, a Web series that continues the storyline of the original Star Trek television show.

George Takei, who originated the role of Mr. Sulu in the 1960s classic and can currently be seen in the hit TV show Heroes, starred in the new episode as Sulu.

After seeing the show at the DAVE School's graduation ceremony last Thursday, Takei told The West Orange Times he was impressed with the caliber of work done by the graduating class.

“Amazing things have been done, and it's comparable to what's on network TV,” Takei said. “It's really impressive.”

James Cawley, creator and executive producer of the Web series, said he was also blown away by the visual effects provided by the DAVE School. The student computer animators created 658 shots, which, he said, was about three times more than the amount used in any modern Star Trek television episodes.

“It's definitely Hollywood magic created in Florida,” Cawley said. “We developed a network-quality film and have raised the bar for fan films.”

The number of shots to be created by DAVE School animators rose greatly from the initially planned 150 as producers continued to add more special effects. The amount of work done at the DAVE School could have cost producers well over a half-million dollars at a commercial facility, according to DAVE School instructor Lee Stringer.

The set and actors for the episode were shot in New York City, while all green-screen, motion-capture and visual effects work took place at the DAVE School.

Jeff Scheetz, owner and founder of the DAVE School, said working on this project was a great experience for the school and its students.

“This project is right along with all our training goals,” Scheetz said. “We simply try to give our students an on-the-job experience while they are still in school.

The DAVE School teaches a 12-month program in computer animation and visual effects at its 9,000-square-foot facility at University Studios Florida. Scheetz founded the school in 2000 with his wife, Anne. Students receive production-intensive training that culminates with the creation of a completed film.

For more information on the DAVE School or Star Trek New Voyages log onto either www.DAVESchool.com or www.NewVoyages.com.