MY FAMILY IS DIFFERENT: I’M ADOPTED
KIDS, TERRORISM AND THE AMERICAN SPIRIT
DO WE NEED BLACK HISTORY MONTH?
THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY
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THE IRAQ QUESTION:
AMERICAN KIDS TALK ABOUT GOING TO WAR
CHEAP SHOTS AND LOW BLOWS:
HOW DEBATE TURNS TO HATE
CLASSES IN ACTION
This clip is from “SHU’S GOT TALENT”- a 50-minute variety show created, written, produced, directed, crewed and edited by students in my Advanced TV Studio Production class at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Segments included a performance excerpt from a campus musical show- shot in green screen, a dance extravaganza by fourteen tap dancers, a standup comedian and an improv group- both performing in front of a live studio audience- and a solo female vocalist. There were interviews and occasional “surprise” guests as well. As the show title implies, all the talent- both in front and behind the cameras- were Sacred Heart students. The students did a fantastic job!
The project created quite a buzz around campus. Even the university president, Dr. John Petillo, stopped by to participate in the show finale.
This Broadcast News Production class was taught during the COVID-19 pandemic (Spring 20) and was completed on line. To respect stay at home and social distancing restrictions, I encouraged students to create their news features from existing footage sourced from various network, cable and internet news platforms. The quality of the work was outstanding…and touching. This clip looks at the challenges 2020 had posed to date.
Some studio and control room shots taken as students prepare their shows for classes at Sacred Heart University.
Occasionally, I work with both undergrad and graduate students to help produce special live multi-camera university television events. These include the Gubernatorial Debates hosted by SHU, the annual SHU Media Exchange and Pioneer home football games. Additionally, I’ve taught special workshops including a Media Production/Media Literacy Program with visiting international students.
These photos are from Hunter College (CUNY) in New York City. Student production exercises include a “live” multi-camera commercial, a talk show and a variety show. Students also create their own projects including cooking shows, game shows, comic spoofs, sports highlight shows, dramatic vignettes…and just about anything they can come up with!
These pics were taken at York College (CUNY) in Queens, NY. For their final project, the students produced a live multi-camera awards show called Reel Masters to judge entries for Outstanding PSA. The live internet video stream included a behind the scenes look at show preparations, including live interviews with faculty and students. A live one-hour show followed. Halfway through, a “voting” show break (America’s Got Talent….anyone!) allowed viewers to vote their selection for the Outstanding PSA of the semester via Twitter, Facebook, or Text. After the votes were tabulated, Awards were handed out during the live continuation of the program.
The Ed McMahon Communications Center is a first-rate production facility at Quinnipiac University located in Hamden, CT. The studio’s large Chroma Key green hard cyc inspires students to think outside the studio’s four walls. Student producer/directors make extensive use of the center’s virtual set library to conceive unique studio environments for their class projects.