5 minute read
We Do It All
Student-driven commercial about media programs captures MTSU’s first Emmy
by Andrew Oppmann
“We Do It All,” a video ad showcasing the College of Media and Entertainment, started with a concept from Marie Barnas, chair of the Department of Media and Arts. It ended with the University’s first Emmy.
Along the way, the commercial was made possible by a huge collaboration between faculty and students across departments in the college.
The one-minute spot, which debuted last year, earned a regional Emmy Award at February’s 38th annual Nashville/MidSouth Emmy Awards. MTSU alumnus Nic Dugger, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) chapter president, presided over the ceremony.
“I’m over the moon. My time at MTSU has been incredible, but this is like the cherry on top,” said Kelty Greye, a Commercial Songwriting student who co-wrote the music, sang, and played fiddle in the spot.
Action, Animation, and Acting
Allie Sultan, an associate professor in the Video and Film Production program, directed the commercial and coproduced it with Bess Rogers, an assistant professor in Recording Industry. It was created in five weeks start to finish.
“It’s been a thrill,” Sultan said. “Freshman filmmaking students in my class worked for two days filming their first commercial!”
Emily Rink, an Animation major, worked with Paul Griswold, professor and campus visual effect guru, to create the featured anime.
“How fun is that? They had the idea to turn Grace Chu, our student, into an anime character,” Sultan said.
“So Emily just rotoscoped the shot and drew over it frame by frame. She did it in a couple of days. It was amazing. So we were able to put that in the commercial. I think it’s such a great moment where Grace is drawing, and she’s so passionate that she becomes her own character she’s creating.”
Finally, the onscreen talent—all students—come from the Recording Industry and Media Arts departments and the School of Journalism and Strategic Media.
Featured prominently in the spot is overall narration and onscreen appearance by Recording Industry student Liliana Manyara. Manyara pops out of the LED wall as part of Barnas’ concept and “walks” through the college throughout the video, weaving in various Journalism, Media Arts, and Recording Industry programs.
Original Song Credits
Rogers worked with students in her Songwriting for Film, TV, and Gaming course to create the music for the commercial.
“This commercial was a fantastic opportunity for the students,” Rogers said. “It was our first project of the semester, and the students had no prior experience with this.”
Greye and Audio Production majors Peter Van Wyk and Phillip Beima wrote and recorded the selected song submission, also titled “We Do It All.”
“This whole experience, from the songwriting contest to write a commercial song, recording it in the studio, filming it, and then ending up at the Emmys, I have learned so much through every step of this,” Greye said. “Also, it’s been the coolest experience of my life.”
Student Nick Edgerson, who records as Legendary Nedge on the student-run record label Match Records, performed a rap he wrote in a tempo change as part of the commercial’s centerpiece song. The music was recorded in Studio D, one of MTSU’s newest recording studio facilities, with the assistance of Professor Bill Crabtree.
“This whole experience, from the songwriting contest to write a commercial song, recording it in the studio, filming it, and then ending up at the Emmys, I have learned so much through every step of this,” Greye said. “Also, it’s been the coolest experience of my life.”
Post-Production Pride
Students then completed the audio mix of the commercial in Professor Matt Foglia’s Advanced Sound for Picture course.
“Almost everything you hear on the track was written, recorded, played, and produced by students,” Rogers said. “I’m incredibly proud of them and of everyone who lent their talents to make this happen.”
The commercial, debuting online and on True Blue TV, aired on the national broadcast of The Judds’ final concert, which was filmed at Murphy Center as Wynonna Judd’s all-star tribute to her late mother and duet partner, Naomi. MTSU’s Division of Marketing and Communications, which proposed a CME-created ad to Dean Beverly Keel, co-produced and sponsored the spot. The video also won three Silvers in the Telly Awards and a faculty creative Award of Excellence from the Broadcast Education Association.
The Nashville/Midsouth Region, one of 19 NATAS chapters, encompasses Tennessee, all of North Carolina except Asheville, and the Huntsville, Alabama, TV market.
In another True Blue tie to the event, students from Associate Professor Bob Gordon’s advanced production class crewed the live broadcast of the Emmy ceremony along with video film production alumni—including the executive producer, director, graphics producer, and playback producer—using MTSU’s Mobile Production Lab truck.
“This was truly a collaborative effort with a lot of faculty and students who came together, and I’m just so proud of how it turned out,” Sultan said.
The College of Media and Entertainment truly does it all.
