2 Chapman Trustees Offer $3.5 Million as Film-School Spur

Chapman University trustees Donald Sodaro and Edgar Pankey are offering a $3.5-million challenge grant in hopes of raising money for a film and TV studio complex at the private-school campus in Orange.

The gift kicks off the first phase of a $10-million campaign to build a $50-million studio facility on 9 acres, complete with a commissary, 40 to 50 editing suites, a theater complex and an 18,000-square-foot sound stage that professional production companies could rent. Another building will hold five smaller sound stages, according to Bob Bassett, dean of Chapman’s School of Film and Television.

Bassett said the school already has experienced a 400% increase in enrollment since 1996.

A couple of large donations already have come in, including $500,000 from Paul Folino, chief executive officer for Emulex Corp., and $100,000 from Hadi Makerchian, chairman of Capital Pacific Holdings.

The match offer is good through December of next year.