Today@Sam Article

SHSU Promo Videos Recognized With Telly Awards

June 24, 2019
SHSU Media Contact: Emily Binetti

A video celebrating SHSU’s values, a commercial showcasing SHSU heroes and a promo video exploring the life of a fictional SHSU student were all recognized in the 40th annual Telly Awards. The award honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies.

Created by video producer Mike Foster in SHSU’s MarCom office, SHSU Values received a silver Telly Award in the general non-broadcast category and was made to build awareness for the five core values that embody the university.  

“Much has changed since our university was established in 1879 but what hasn’t changed is a commitment to upholding our longstanding values,” Foster said. “This was the main idea behind the video. The use of historical campus images combined with modern images to express that point, I believe helped the video standout with judges.” 

Also receiving a silver Telly Award in the local TV-schools/colleges/universities category was SHSU’s Heroes Will Rise commercial that explores the question “What makes a hero?” and features a diverse population of SHSU students across academic disciplines.

Directed by SHSU associate professor Wojciech Lorenc, the promo video for the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication received two bronze Telly Awards in the categories of cinematography and directing. The video is a shortened, 4-minute version of “The Drone” - an award-winning short film produced by the mass communication department.

Department chair, Jean Bodon saw “The Drone” as a unique opportunity to promote the college through good storytelling. 

“When the need for a new video for our college was mentioned, I suggested we do a different type of promotional video, like a movie rather than an advertisement,” Bodon said.

Collaboration is key to the art of filmmaking and as such, Lorenc is grateful for the over one hundred SHSU students, faculty and staff who helped make the project possible.    

“The bronze Telly for cinematography recognizes not just my efforts working in the capacity of director of photography, but also the efforts of key crew members. Our talented BFA film and TV production students Gavin Tovar (gaffer) and Skylar Anderson (assistant camera) deserve recognition,” Lorenc said. “The collaboration from everyone involved on campus really is a testament that this is a supportive environment and was a reinforcement for me that this film really was worth making.”

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