An ongoing partnership between York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) and MBS Equipment Co. Canada (MBSE) has been expanding access to professional production equipment for film and media arts students.
For the past four years, MBSE has been providing AMPD students with access to professional lighting, grip and production equipment at the York U Motion Media Studio (YUMMS), located at Cinespace Toronto.
The equipment is valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars and is top of the line, the same gear used on active film and television productions, reflecting current industry standards. MBSE has renewed the same commitment for 2026.
“Having access to state of the art filmmaking facilities and equipment in a professional setting is invaluable for our students,” says AMPD Dean, Brandon Vickerd. “It uniquely prepares our graduates to enter the industry knowing how to use same tools and systems used on professional sets. Working at YUMMS means they are ready to contribute and produce high-quality work from day one on the job.”
MBSE Canada is one of the country’s leading providers of lighting, grip and production equipment for film and television, supplying major productions filmed in Toronto and across Canada.
“MBSE is proud to support York U's AMPD Motion Media Studio and the next generation of storytellers,” says Steve Hancock, General Manager, Eastern Canada at MBSE.
“By providing state-of-the-art professional equipment, we hope to help students bring their creative visions to life and gain hands-on experience that prepares them for success in the industry.”
Located within Cinespace, home to many Canadian and international film and television productions, YUMMS is a full-scale production facility where students take classes and complete productions. The studio includes professional soundstages, a green screen and industry-standard infrastructure.
This partnership reflects AMPD’s ongoing commitment to providing students with access to professional learning environments and real-world production experience.
“My time as both an undergraduate and graduate student at AMPD gave me hands-on access to professional-grade equipment that fundamentally shaped how I approach filmmaking,” says Josiah Dyck (BFA ‘21), current MFA Film student at AMPD and Studio Technology Coordinator at YUMMS. “Being able to experiment, make mistakes, and refine my craft with the same tools used in the industry was invaluable. It helped bridge the gap between learning and actually doing.”
“Now, in my current role, I see that same impact on students every day. There’s a confidence that comes from working with this level of equipment early on, and it translates directly into how prepared they feel stepping into professional environments. It’s not just about technical skills; it’s about developing a creative voice while understanding the standards and expectations of the industry.”
Learn more about AMPD’s Department of Cinema & Media Arts.
Learn more about MBSE.