ETSU’s Scott M. Niswonger Digital Media Center teems with creativity. Instructor Martin Fitzgerald put those skills to good use in an experimental class called “Animation Production.”
The eight students in the class, Steven Brenner, Jesse Foltz, Chris Holmes, Robby Jones, Ishon Prescott, Mike Taylor, Chris Vaughn and Collin Waldron, met with client Michael White, ETSU’s assistant athletic director for media relations.
White explained his needs for a strong television advertisement. Students presented him with several possibilities, White made his selection, and students spent the remainder of the semester videotaping, creating graphics and compositing.
“Those of us in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Buccaneer Sports Network were so pleased with the chance to work with another department on campus in an effort to promote ETSU,” said White.
“This project is an example of the mutual benefits that can be achieved when departments work together. We received a high-quality advertising spot, while the students in the digital media center had a real-world working experience and the chance to have their project air nationally.
“I found the students to be professional young people with a desire to do great work,” he said. “It was a terrific experience all around.”
The resulting TV spot earned a silver ADDY award from the Tri-City Metro Advertising Federation.
In addition, the one-time class project is shown on Inside Buc Sports, a magazine-style program on ETSU athletics produced by Mountain States Health Alliance Buccaneer Sports Network, which airs on Charter channel 13 and Comcast channel 14 at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays.
ETSU’s show and the promotional spot are also televised nationally in 40 million homes on Fox’s College Sports Central at 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
For further information on the digital media project, contact Fitzgerald at fitzgemr@etsu.edu.

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