Client: Indiana University Columbus: Full-scale live event production Outcome: Invited back for the 2027 ceremony before the event concluded
As a production company, Phierce Productions knows a commencement is unforgiving. There’s one shot to get it right. There’s no room for technical failure. Every family in the room is watching for one specific moment. So when IU Columbus needed a partner for their commencement, they needed more than a vendor. They needed a team that could deliver cinematic-quality video, clear audio, and a seamless experience for graduates, faculty, and families, all executed live, with zero re-dos.
Why IU Columbus Chose a New Graduation Ceremony Production Company
IU Columbus had used a large, established production company for prior ceremonies. For 2026, they brought in Phierce Productions instead. As a boutique production company, we produced the entire event from the ground up:
- 6-camera multi-camera live broadcast, shot on a sharp cinematic camera system. Because of this, image quality went well beyond the standard “point and shoot” coverage typical of commencement broadcasts.
- Creative camera placement that pushed past the conventional angles used in past years. As a result, the broadcast and IMAG feed had a more dynamic, produced feel.
- Live streaming for remote family and friends unable to attend in person
- IMAG (image magnification) to screens throughout the venue, so every seat had a clear view of the stage
- Full staging build-out, including projectors and screens
- Complete venue setup, including chairs and seating
- Live audio production, so every name, speech, and moment carried clearly through the room
- Full event staffing, managing the technical and logistical execution from load-in to strike
The Results: A Rebooking Before the Ceremony Even Ended
On setup day, IU staff told our team directly that we were far ahead of the curve compared to their previous production company. This happened before a single camera had even rolled.
The ceremony itself ran without a hitch. Six camera feeds cut live. Audio and video streamed cleanly. Every guest could see and hear the moment their graduate crossed the stage, all captured with noticeably sharper, more cinematic image quality than in prior years.
Because of that performance, IU Columbus asked Phierce Productions to return for the 2027 commencement prior to the end of the commencement day.
A Long-Term Graduation Ceremony Production Partner, Not a One-Off Vendor
We treat every long-term client relationship as something to keep improving, and IU Columbus is no exception. Instead of simply repeating what worked, we’re already looking ahead to 2027. Together with IU Columbus, we’re exploring how to develop further and elevate their graduation ceremony year over year.
Why It Matters for Universities Choosing a Production Company
Producing a university commencement takes the same discipline as any large-scale corporate event or convention. Live broadcast under pressure, multi-camera coordination, audience-facing screens, staging, and audio all have to come together in real time, with no second takes.
What set Phierce Productions apart wasn’t just meeting that bar. It was exceeding it. Our boutique team, working directly and hands-on, outpaced a much larger incumbent production company on setup day alone. Then, we delivered a sharper, more creatively shot broadcast than the ceremony had ever seen. Because IU Columbus trusted us with that responsibility, the results earned a repeat booking on the spot.
Phierce Productions is a boutique, full-service production company based in Nashville, serving clients across Tennessee, Indiana, and coast to coast. As a production company and full-service event partner, we bring broadcast-level execution with the direct, hands-on attention of a boutique team.
