A soundstage at Columbia’s Media Production Center transforms into Gotham City for a recent open house for prospective students and their families thanks to a collaboration between faculty, students, alumni, and corporate partners.

When prospective students and their families walked through Columbia College Chicago’s Media Production Center for a recent open house, they saw an unforgettable sight: Gotham Street, inspired by the Batman franchise. The experience came complete with the characters Harley Quinn and the Joker, played by Columbia Theatre students Ines Manuel and Jason Sullivan, a Batcycle from the 1960s Batman TV show, towering buildings, and the iconic bat signal lighting up the night sky.  

This set was the result of a collaborative effort between Columbia faculty, students, alumni, and corporate partners that captivated visitors but also demonstrated the kind of real-world, hands-on learning that defines the college’s approach to film and television education. 

Flash From the Past: 1960s Batcycle Takes Center Stage 

The centerpiece of the set, the Batcycle, was a piece of pop culture history generously loaned to Columbia through a newly forged partnership with Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum. This not-for-profit organization houses more than 300 award-winning and historic vehicles, including Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine and cars used in James Bond films. 

Michael Wright, an adjunct faculty member at Columbia’s School of Film and Television, played a key role in establishing the connection. "The relationship started when I was on location shooting a film at the museum," Wright says. "I introduced them to Columbia, and it just clicked. They're passionate about community engagement, and we’re passionate about providing students with real-world opportunities. It was a perfect fit." 

Gotham Comes to Life

The set, designed and installed by Film and Television production design students in collaboration with alumni (including Jack Stearns ’20) under the guidance of adjunct faculty members Gail Sonnenfeld and John Gregg, featured a forced perspective that made the street appear larger than reality, adding to the dramatic atmosphere. "We wanted to evoke Gotham City in a way that felt true to the ‘Batman’ legacy, but we also wanted to bring a little piece of Chicago into it," Sonnenfeld explained. "We used the Drake Hotel and Palmolive Building as stand-ins for Gotham’s towering skyline, creating a set that felt both cinematic and local." 

Barbizon, a lighting company that generously donated the resources to bring the bat signal to life, also played an important role. "The bat signal is a powerful symbol of hope in Gotham, and we wanted to replicate that moment of awe for our students and visitors," says Carolina Posse, associate professor at Columbia’s School of Film and Television. "Having Barbizon support this vision was incredible. It’s this kind of collaboration that allows us to offer students unique experiences." 

A mix of Batman music from previous productions was artfully created by the School of Film and Television’s Arbob Khan, which added to the overall Gotham vibe of the soundstage.

 

Making Good Things Happen, Together 

For Jenna Ahrens, a junior studying film and television at Columbia, the opportunity to work on the set was a dream come true. "Getting to design and build around a museum-quality vehicle like the Batcycle is an incredible learning experience," she says.  

The hands-on nature of the project was important to Posse, who emphasized how this experience not only enriched the students’ education but also helped foster a strong sense of community within the college. "This isn’t just about building a set—it’s about bringing people together. From our students to alumni to professionals in the industry, everyone came together to make this happen. And that’s what Columbia is all about: collaboration, creativity, and community." 

Ultimately, the Gotham project stood as a testament to what happens when the Columbia community and corporate partners come together. 

As Wright puts it, "This is what we’re doing here. We’re giving students the chance to manifest their imagination in ways they never thought possible. And I think that’s what sets Columbia apart."

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