The Digital Media & Journalism Department welcomes Justin Westfall, the department’s first full-time professional Equipment & Studio Manager. With an extensive background working professionally in Los Angeles, Westfall now brings his knowledge and skill of production to share with the students of SUNY New Paltz.
An Ithaca native and graduate from Ithaca College with a Bachelor in Science in Radio and Television, Westfall lived and worked in Los Angeles, California for years before coming to New Paltz. There, he worked as a freelance cinematographer, camera operator, camera assistant, grip and electrician on film sets. Eventually, he transitioned to working in a rental house for Stray Angel Films, where he catered to short films, web content, television, and some feature films in the mid professional tier.
Working at the rental house involved building quotes, competitive pricing, catering to production budgets and dodging scammers. “I worked there for about 10 years as the rental manager, basically the same thing as here. We rented cameras, lights, audio equipment, production equipment,” Westfall said.
Westfall made the decision to move back to New York with his wife and young son after 12 years spent in Los Angeles to be closer to family, applying for the Equipment and Studio Manager position here at SUNY New Paltz. He made the move with his family just a few short weeks before starting the new position.
Transitioning from professional rental house work to a student studio has been a different, but rewarding experience for Westfall. “I think it’s a lot more gratifying working with students and having, like, a little bit of a teaching aspect,” Westfall said. “I worked in Los Angeles, there’s a lot of film schools out there, so it was more so graduate students, but we did rent to some undergrads as well, so I have some experience with that.”
As the Equipment & Studio Manager, Westfall’s daily responsibilities vary more throughout the year. Over the summer, Westfall focused on reorganizing the equipment room, and buying and reinstalling new equipment. Now at the beginning of the semester, he works on staffing the equipment room, training workers on all the gear, policies and procedures, as well as performing demonstrations for the production classes. He also maintains the television studio, the audio suites, and the podcasting lab; ensuring equipment is up to date, in the right place and troubleshooting any technological issues that occur.
The biggest adjustment from working at a private rental house to an academic institution for Westfall has been funding. While having previously navigated levels of approval at the rental house, Westfall has now had to learn navigating the bureaucracy and extensive paperwork of purchasing for an academic institution.
Even after a full summer of expanding the equipment room, Westfall has no plans to stop. “I have a whole five year plan,” he said. “All equipment has a lifespan to it, and it’s not gonna last forever.”
To students who have never handled production equipment before and are holding back, Westfall offers that the best way to begin is to just get your experience hands-on. “It just takes hours and practice honestly,” he says. “Access to free equipment is the best perk that you have for being a student here.”
Visit the DMJ Equipment Room website for more information on rental procedures, YouTube tutorials, and more.