Extreme Makeover: Dodge Lobby Edition

Chapman students and faculty share their opinions on the lobby renovations in Marion Knott Studios. Photo by SIMRAH AHMAD, Staff Photographer

Although copying internet memes about actor Timotheé Chalamet’s recent “Wonka” trailer may not come to mind as a perfect project reveal for everybody, the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts social media team felt otherwise. 

Dean of Dodge College Stephen Galloway co-starred alongside his dog Toby in a short, funny video revealing Marion Knott Studios’ lobby remodel, which garnered almost 30,000 views — more than any other video on the Dodge Instagram account. 

“We've never had a central hub for the film school,” Galloway told The Panther. “The film school is spread across three huge buildings. Collaboration and communities are so integral to what we do (at Dodge) that we've often said, ‘How can we create a place where students who want to hang out in a comfortable space and meet each other and (help) with that natural interaction between students who might not otherwise know each other?’” 

After the large number of views on the reveal video and the buzz around campus, it’s safe to say that the remodel has been a main topic of conversation on campus. The lobby shed its old, bleak look and now features a red carpet, a huge neon sign, a fake tree and more in order to represent a movie theater marquee, all in order to give the feel of a movie premiere.

The lobby may finally be completed, but not without multiple years of planning. The original idea has been floating around since Galloway began working at the school, about three years ago. Galloway told The Panther that the old lobby felt “antiseptic” and that it was important to him to make sure the lobby underwent significant upgrading in order to make an impact on the students who enter.

“(I asked myself), ‘How do we create something iconic where people take photos and selfies and send videos (to people)?” Galloway said. “Out of this (question) came this gigantic movie marquee and the bleachers and the tree and the curved carpet, with many people like students and faculty all contributing ideas and then designs.”

But despite the good intentions, the lobby’s makeover seems to be a point of controversy on campus, with some students naming it a spectacle and calling it “flashy.”

Junior film studies major Karthik Davuluri told The Panther he misses the look of the lobby before the redo. What once felt like a comfortable place to hang out and finish an essay before class is now less than ideal for studying. 

“It just seems kind of like a weird attraction rather than looking like an actual school,” Davuluri said. “I felt like the original lobby was a perfect minimalist design. Like even though we have framed posters and stuff in that lobby, it still wasn't just an empty husk.”

On the flip side, there are still plenty of Panthers who applaud the upgrades. Holiday Fraley, a junior screenwriting major, is only in her second semester at Chapman but still feels like the lobby renovation has brought good vibes to the building. She’s also noticed that more students are sitting in the lobby than before.

“We had like four of those black chairs (before the renovations) so there wasn't a ton of space to sit,” Fraley said. “I think there was even a sign that said ‘Please Don't Loiter in the Lobby.’ Now, it's totally different. It really does have a better vibe walking in and everybody's sitting under the tree or on the wooden seating structure. There's people talking, listening to music, typing on their computer, reading. I've seen a lot of kids reading on the stairs, and it seems like a really nice, peaceful environment.”

Other than changing the atmosphere, the underlying reasoning behind the renovations is up to the interpretation of the students. While some students believe these funds should have been allocated elsewhere, like toward academic classes and additional professors, the reality is the money came from donors who wanted to see something done to the lobby, according to Galloway. There are even rumors about a Spider-Man fixture hanging from the ceiling.

“We talked about having a Spider-Man hanging from the ceiling,” said Galloway, who preferred the idea of the shark from “Jaws” hanging down. “Initially, I had lots of students who (say he’s) very popular now. Now, I'm getting a bit of mixed feelings from people. But the biggest issue here: do we ever get the copyright?”

For students like Fraley, the seemingly random change has caused some speculation. 

“It’s like the new painted murals by the Career Center,” Fraley said. “So, we just had that (completed) and I think that it was probably always heading in that (modernized) direction. And they just wanted something a little bolder. It really does spruce the place up.”

The mural and lobby are not the only changes in store for the film school. Galloway told The Panther that the lobby renovations are actually a part of a three-step upgrading plan. 

“Step one was the Career Center, which to me was just crucial because students pay a lot of money to get here, and I feel we must help them into careers,” Galloway said. “Last year, they helped 500 students find internships, which is amazing, and I wanted (the Career Center) to be right off the lobby so nobody can miss it. Step two is the lobby itself. The next (step) is to put up a bright new admission center further down the hallway next to the Career Center.”

With only one final step to go in the three-pronged process, Galloway is excited about the future of the building. But, he does hope to one day have a little cafe in the lobby for a final touch.

“I'm really thrilled,” Galloway said. “I mean, it's an amazing thing in my job to start out with just a little idea. The build fully reinforced what I think is special about the film school. This is a village of filmmakers. Even more than anywhere else, there’s a sense to be there for each other, and so if (the lobby) takes that to another level, then it's done everything we want.”