FSU Film School: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Digital Domain

There's an old Sunday school sermon called "The Lord loves a positive thinker." In that vein ...

Florida State University says it doesn't need Digital Domain Media Group (DDMG) to launch its new digital animation major this semester -- even though the university spent 18 months in routine meetings with the bankrupt animation studio to prepare for the launch.

It's going ahead with the plan anyway, relocating a class of students to its new home in West Palm Beach.

The major had hinged on a partnership with Digital Domain Institute, a subsidiary of DDMG. The problem: Digital Domain Institute filed under Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 11.

In its Sept. 27-30 edition, FSView & Florida Flambeau, FSU's independent student newspaper, quotes Frank Patterson, dean of the College of Motion Picture Arts:

"In this case there was a very practical and natural affinity between Digital Domain Media Group and the Florida State College of Motion Picture Arts that made the collaboration very promising for our students. With or without Digital Domain, the university will continue to pursue these relationships for the benefit of our students."