TV Cage

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The Television Equipment Centere is located in the 600 S Michigan Building, 14th floor, room 1405. Phone 312.369.7409

The space is supervised by Tony Ward.


Hours of Operation

Day Hours Notes
Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 9:30pm Last check out or return @ 9:00p
Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm Last check out or return @ 4:00p
Saturday - Sunday Closed


Reservation Process

Students may reserve equipment and editing at any time during the current week, and may begin reserving for the next week on or after the prior Wednesday. Reservations will start at 9am in person at the Cage. Phone reservations will begin at 10am.

  • Equipment is reserved and signed out by one student.
  • Individual students may reserve for one check out a week.
  • Thursday check outs return the following Monday.
  • BE ON TIME. For two-day reservations, if you do not call or pick up your equipment on the FIRST day, it becomes a walk-on at the end of the day and you will lose the reservation.

Equipment Checkout Procedure

You must present a valid current semester Columbia College ID to checkout the equipment. No equipment will be issued without a current semester ID.

All equipment must be picked up no later than 1/2 hour before closing (Monday - Thursday 9pm, Friday 4pm). THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. Please plan for traffic, CTA delays, and other obstacles because there are NO EXCEPTIONS.

News classes equipment pickup is at the Front Desk of the Columbia College Chicago Library (624 S Michigan Ave, 1st Floor)

Day Hours Notes
Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 10:00pm 9:30pm cut-off time
Friday 7:30am - 8:00pm 7:30pm cut-off time
Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm 4:30pm cut-off time
Sunday 10:30am - 6:00pm 5:30pm cut-off time

Plan AT LEAST 1/2 HOUR for checkout to be completed. Once a work-aide has tested all equipment, students will be REQUIRED to inspect, test all equipment, and complete a checklist before checkout will be completed. Students MUST comply in order to receive equipment. NO EXCEPTIONS. We will not rush and neither will you.

If you have any questions while you have the equipment checked out, please call the TV Cage & we can try and fix it over the phone).

Equipment Return Procedure

When returning equipment, students must be present for check in. Once again, allow up to a 1/2 hour for check in (this would be a good time to tell us of any issues you had with the equipment). If you need to remove footage off of either the SD/Compact Flash cards or hard drive for the camera or digital audio recorder you’re returning, that has to be done BEFORE you return your equipment. Equipment cannot be left at the Cage while you go & dump your footage. Everything must be returned at the same time. Partial return of equipment WILL NOT be accepted. If something has gone missing, you will be charged for its replacement. If something is damaged, you will be charged for its repair. Equipment that is left at the Equipment Center WITHOUT doing a proper check-in will be considered LATE & may result in possible loss of privileges.

Equipment Extensions

You must return the equipment & have it checked back in first in order to see if you can check out the equipment again. Equipment checkouts CANNOT be extended over the phone. Returning equipment late will result in loss of equipment usage and fines. There is a three strikes system in place.


  • First time late results in a written warning and possible docking of department privileges by the Equipment Center Managers.
  • Second time late results in being docked from all department equipment and facilities for one week, and only being allowed to use all facilities in an in-class environment.
  • Third time late results in a loss of privileges for the remainder of the semester. After the dock you may not reserve any department equipment or facilities. They may be used on a walk-on basis only.


There is a $25 fine for each day equipment is late. Starting on WEEK 12, the late fee will be increased to $75 per day (this is to ensure that we have all the equipment that students reserved at the time of pickup).


Students are responsible for the condition and return of all equipment signed out. If the equipment is misused, broken, stolen or lost, YOU, the student who signed the equipment contract, are liable for all replacement and/or repair costs. You are financially responsible.

If there is a problem with the equipment contact a work aid or the manager on duty. Do not attempt to fix it yourself.

Editing and Computer Facilities Procedures

You are required to provide your own external hard drive. The type of drive you use should have the following:

  • At least one USB 3.0 port or Thunderbolt port
  • Have a read/write speed of 7200 RPM
  • Bus - Powered (no power supply needed)
  • At least 500GB of storage space


The Department uses Adobe Premiere Pro. The department also has Apple Final Cut Pro & Avid Media Composer.


Students who arrive 15 minutes late for their assigned time will lose that time. If you are going to be late, call and let us know. Other students can walk-on and use the time if you do not call. Students must check in with the equipment center before your editing or dubbing time, and you must surrender your School ID while you edit.


We will not accept Ventra Cards, State IDs, Credit Cards, Gym Cards, Key Cards, or any other type of card ID. If you don’t have your Columbia College ID, you will not be allowed to edit.


If you fail to check in, we will assume that you are not here and your time may be given away. Any student who uses equipment without signing in with the equipment center will be ejected from the facility. All students must check out (and retrieve your School ID) when finished editing.


Once a student signs up for the limit of camera, edit or dub time in a week, additional time is available on a “walk on” basis. Walk on time is limited to increments equal to your usual class allotment but can be used as often as it is available. Students must check with the equipment center and use whatever unit is available at that time. This edit or dub time is not counted against your reserved time.


NO EATING, DRINKING, or SMOKING is permitted in any of the editing suites, computer labs, or classrooms at any time. If a student is caught doing so, they will be asked to leave their current session. Repeat offenders will be docked.


DO NOT prop any doors open, this includes editing suites, computer labs, and classrooms. This will assist in the protection of your fellow students, their personal belongings, and equipment. A work-aide will be happy to let you into the room in the event you have to leave temporarily. If you prop any door open, you will lose your time. Repeat offenders will be docked. The Television Department is not liable for your media, books, purses, backpacks or other personal items left in the labs, suites, or classrooms.


Tutoring

One-on-One Tutoring is available. The equipment center offers a student-tutoring program on certain designated days, and times. There are reservation sheets for the scheduled sessions that range from help with field equipment to help with basic and advanced editing. This is a great way to get the extra help you may need at any time throughout the semester.

Some equipment, such as the Kessler Crane and Zacuto Stinger, may require special certification for access. Sign up can be done through The Cage. Certification training is on a limited basis and for students who have had certain classes. For more information, talk to the manager.