On pinch-point days, Gemstone’s USF production control room facility and in-house Fly Pack are supplemented with scalable broadcast truck partners. As always, the needs of the show dictate which tools are needed to deliver the highest quality content to the viewers at home. To say their dance card is full would be an understatement. Chris […]
On pinch-point days, Gemstone’s USF production control room facility and in-house Fly Pack are supplemented with scalable broadcast truck partners. As always, the needs of the show dictate which tools are needed to deliver the highest quality content to the viewers at home.
To say their dance card is full would be an understatement. Chris North laughs; “Oh man, if you look at our calendar some weeks it’s amazing we get it all done. But we do.”
Gemstone shoots Panasonic 5600 bodies, paired with Canon 22x ENG-style lenses and Canon 95x Box Lenses. For support they use all Cartoni heads & tripods, including the 25 Master Series for ENG, and Cartoni’s 65 Master Series with heavy-duty Sport 200 tripods for their long lenses.
Florida’s own Gemstone Media captures and delivers on-campus sports at colleges across the state. Their University of South Florida (USF) Division is headed-up by Engineer Chris North and Production Manager Alex Reynolds; a team with an ambitious slate that currently includes Volleyball, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Baseball & Soccer, together with football pressers, coach announcements and other special events. Added to the mix, Lacrosse will be added this year, with Beach Volleyball competitions starting in 2026. A new on-campus football stadium is set for completion in 2027, and with this, College Football production opportunities for Gemstone.
Manned by a crew of student operators, Gemstone gives students real sports broadcast experience. Over the last four years, USF’s robust student program is made up of both current students and recent graduates operating positions across the shows. Current students shadow and learn their first semester, then utilize that knowledge to provide a deep crew stable on those tough days.
With such a full schedule, these camera packages see a lot of turn around. Moving from venue to venue and dealing with extreme weather can be a challenge. Chris North notes: “Obviously students can be a little rough on the equipment, but we haven’t had any issues with our Cartoni tripods. Our equipment has honestly held up pretty well considering we’re shooting in all elements, especially in the Spring with the rain and the heat.”
Linear certified through ESPN, Gemstone produces more than 165 live sports broadcasts airing worldwide on ESPN+ each year, as well as being integral in numerous linear productions produced out of USF’s on-campus studio and airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Depending on the season, Gemstone’s UFS production team juggles up to five live events each weekend. Finding the best combination and placement of equipment is key to delivering the best possible product to ESPN.
Unsurprisingly, Gemstone’s track record for student job placement after graduation is strong. Many go on to work for local news stations, FanDuel, Game Creek, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and even Gemstone itself. Chris North adds: “We’ve done a really good job of launching careers after the program without a doubt.”
