It was a serious welcome for students and alumni of LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City. 

The group was visiting Silvercup Studios, a film and television studio, to check out lighting and grip equipment being donated to the school for their own film and television program. 

“Hopefully we will see you in these hallways one day as a filmmaker, gaffer, director, producer. We would love to see you,” Alberto Rios, the director of lighting and grip for Silvercup Studios, said. 

Rios said the older gear is rarely used, and mainly sits on the shelves collecting dust.

“So actually giving it to the students so they can use it, learn from it, prepare themselves for a career which can be very profitable if you dedicate yourself to it. It’s been really good to me,” said Rios, who has been in the business for three decades. 

Silvercup has donated nearly 300 pieces of equipment worth more than $120,000 over the past few years to schools like LaGuardia, Bronx Community College and the Academy for Careers in Television and Film High School.

Silvercup has also opened its doors to students for tour and internships.

“Our students are just delighted to be here, and I mean, you have to have hands-on experience with professional gear. I mean, there really is no substitute, so this is really excellent,” David Stott, an associate professor of film and television at LaGuardia Community College, said.

Lights from Silvercup are set up in a TV, green screen and production studio on the LaGuardia campus.

Students and alumni say they are grateful to have the real deal gear to train on.  

“It’s wonderful to know that we are getting this equipment, because it’s not only securing the future of filmmakers, but it gives us a chance to get that hands-on experience that we desperately need,” alumnus Paul Williams said.

Donated items include switchboards, lighting stands, dollies and tracks, which will help train the future of the movie and television industry.