Facilities
College of Fine Arts
College of Fine Arts
Thanks to the generosity of Florida State University’s Department of Art alum Chuck Whited, the College of Fine Arts is pleased to be able to offer a range of more than 200 hand-painted backdrops for use in photo shoots, filming and more to the Florida State University family!
Chuck Whited earned his BFA in Studio Art in 1976. To help pay his way through school, he ran an airbrushing business in Panama City Beach on the weekends. His entrepreneurial spirit never died. Chuck moved to Atlanta where he worked in a number of production capacities. As Atlanta became an epicenter of filming in the U.S., Chuck responded to the growing need for backdrop rentals and custom-made sets with C&M Backdrops.
In 2007, Chuck joined the FSU College of Fine Arts Dean’s Advisory Board. He worked as a mentor for students in film and art, and grew to know the excellence of FSU’s many arts programs. He also learned about our needs.
After more than 20 years as the film industry’s go-to company, Chuck Whited made a bold move. In Summer 2017, Chuck closed C&M Backdrops and donated his entire inventory of 236 backdrops to FSU College of Fine Arts. The gift will supplement sets in our many hands-on learning environments.
Whited may have hung up his hat in the backdrop rental business, but he continues to work as an artist, consultant, art director and executive producer in the film and television community. He is also a competitive cyclist and advocate for increased shared use paths, better awareness, and safety.
