I’m honored to have been invited to Full Sail University’s Advisory Board. I’ve heard of Full Sail for many years but I never had the chance to visit before. Now I must say I’m incredibly impressed. This University is a model to follow and the most cutting edge, multi-disciplined production oriented university out there. There may be equivalent facilities somewhere else but none with the variety of disciplines covered at Full Sail.
No wonder they can’t keep up with growth. There are so many opportunities for companies like Full Sail yet their main challenge is managing their growth. They currently have more than 6,000 students and the facilities are used 24/7.
What I found to be most amazing was the incredible mood everyone seems to be in. You can tell people are learning and working while having a lot of fun.
Let me give you a little tour.
[flv:/video/FullSailTour.flv 480 360]
I was invited to the Advisory Board of Full Sail University in Orlando. I’m incredibly impressed with this university. There is nothing like it in the US and maybe even the world. There may be equivalent or better facilities in other universities or training centers but none that encompasses so many disciplines and with such cutting edge level.
Just to give you an idea of the progressiveness of this school, EVERY student gets a pre-loaded Mac Book Pro when they enter.
Here is a video tour:
[flv:/video/FullSail-S.flv 480 360]
Here are some pictures from my trip. Makes you want to go back to school!!

Full Sail are incredible hosts, they put me at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, which is recognized not only by the celebrities that stay there but by the incredible art collection. It even has a gallery inside the hotel.

Amanda Watlington and Nell Thompson at the welcome dinner
More industry experts and Full Sail staff at the dinner. Al (to the left) has more than 30 years as a music industry lawyer.

Very good Surf & Turf

With my friend Luis Emiro Garcia
Tim thought it was unfair that I never appear in the pictures
Luis Emiro at the dinner

Venezuelan artist Marianne Lerbs was coincidentally exhibited at the floor I stayed in at the Grand Bohemian


My place at the board room

They gave us a tour of the facilities, this is a shot at a class on Computer Animation theory

Electric cars to go around campus

One of the computer animation labs. This one is in session and is all Mac based. They are learning Shake now.

The studio backlot

The students build their own sets and record their own programs


Broadcast quality High Definition production studio.

Music recording class in session with a Grammy award winning professor

Theater for surround sound mixing and video editing on a large scale.

Green screen studio

Motion Capture studio. The red spots (lights) are actually infrared cameras to capture the actor’s movements
The Backlot has its own Jumbotron to exhibit studen’ts work, play movies, concerts and internal messages.

Everyone’s office at Full Sail is a collection of memorabilia, toys and interesting stuff. This is Nell Thompson’s collection.