RTVF 145 - Advanced Television:
Media Action Projects Hofstra (MAP Hofstra)

Spring 2010

Course Description:

Design and development of communication systems for nonbroadcast purposes. This course focuses on writing, researching, planning, and producing programs for nonprofit and community-based organizations with specific needs and audiences. Working with clients, students develop an understanding of how media productions can assist in community outreach and action.

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Student producers:

• “…as seniors it really gave us a good real-world experience right before we graduated…” Andrew Wright, ‘10
• “…(our) video gave us the chance to experiment with style and editing techniques, and also introduced us to tools in Avid we were previously unfamiliar with.” Ariel McCarthy, ‘10
• “…a graduating senior in my position needs to have confidence in his ability to relate to potential clients or employers and convey his ideas in a clear, understandable way. Media Action Projects accomplished that goal for me by letting me step out into a ‘professional’ role while still having the support of my professor and peers.” Steve Edwards, ‘10

I love a teaching environment that creates a win, win, win situation…

First and foremost a win for the student as we set up a real world experience that allows the students the opportunity to work with nonprofit organizations and truly make a difference with their projects. The students collaborate with the organizations to write, design and help implement media that fit specific needs. Truly a real world experience and setting.

Second, a win for the nonprofit organization that has access to the talent and skill level that our students possess. Many of these organizations are able to fill a communication need that they may otherwise not be able to realize because of time and budget constraints.

Third, the University wins as this creates a model that Hofstra University prides itself in as a part of their community outreach.

- Douglas Morrow – Associate Professor Dept. Radio/Television/Film

Click on a client to view the video projects and get more information about the class.

• North Shore Pops Concert Band

  North Shore Pops Concert Band

  “…(the) video will be valuable for promoting our Band’s activities and it will certainly be important for the Band to help secure funding and grants. Media Action Projects is an admirable effort helping to provide resource-limited community organizations like ours this type of high-quality production and we are grateful for your effort.”

  -Stephen O’Reilly, president

  Project synopsis: Interviews with musicians and composers along with B-roll of practices and events to give people information about the band, where to see them and how to get involved. The Public Service Announcement will help create excitement, awareness and visibility of the band.

  Producer's Feedback: “Working with our client was, simply put, fun. The atmosphere and the people made shooting and working with them a joy and I think that came across in the final project. It felt good to help out an organization that I fell does a good thing for the community and it will be nice to know the video will live on through their website for many years to come."

  -Matthew Carfora, ‘10
• Suffolk County Farm and Education Center

  Suffolk County Farm and Education Center

  “The team was professional, patient, helpful and flexible in the actual video process. (We) hope to use it for promotional purposes on local television stations as well as with our legislators to educate them in the scope of our work.”

  -Vicki Fleming, Interim 4-H Youth Development Director

  Project synopsis: In our project we want to raise awareness and promote the facility. We want to show an overview of the facility helping individuals learn, show volunteers helping and the work it takes to operate a farm. Also, we want to show the fun, educational programs that are offered so that more people will be willing to come to the farm.

  Producer's Feedback: “My classmates and I took on full responsibility in accomplishing a 7-10 minute informational video and a PSA for a non-profit organization; we were all very dedicated in achieving the goals of our clients and of course, ourselves.”

  -Samantha Hart, ‘10
• Strength for Life

  Strength for Life

  “I still remember the chills on my arm and the tears in my eyes. Kiki, Fiona and Alberto portrayed Strength for Life with such beauty – it captured the essence of who we are and why we exist.”

  -Jacqueline Errico, founder

  Project synopsis: We would like to create two visual interpretations that would illustrate the organization’s mission in order to attract participants. We would cover its history as well as depict its present operations and future aspirations. The PSA will serve as a motivational catalyst to encourage individuals to not give up fighting cancer.
• Imagine Project, Inc.

  Imagine Project, Inc.

  “…a thoroughly professional, thoughtful and beautifully edited piece of which we are all extremely proud. Perhaps by virtue of its simplicity, lack of pretensions and directness, (this is) more representative of our programs’ goals and objectives than anything to date. I want to thank you all for your artistry, creativity and wonderful imaginations. I so hope to work with you again."

  -Bill Bartlett, the Imagine Project Inc.

  Project synopsis: We will be doing a long-form piece following an improvised idea created by the kids at the Tildon Center from inception to performance. Interspersed will be soundbites and interview clips from the volunteers and the children they work with talking about the challenges and rewards of the program. This will be used to attract people to the program either for funding purposes or recruitment.

  Producer's Feedback: “…it allowed us to become more comfortable working with clients on a one-on-one basis and ascertaining their needs through meetings and constant contact. All in all, it was a positive learning experience that made me more confident in my ability to independently produce material for clients outside the strictures of school.”

  -Ariel McCarthy, ‘10

   
• Sweet Briar Nature Center

  Sweet Briar Nature Center

  “On behalf of the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and the entire Sweetbriar community I would like to thank you, your program, and the terrific students who worked on our promotional video. When I went to the screening I did not know what to expect. The video went beyond my expectations and left me proud of my nature center and choked up. Scott Levine, Priya Wickramanayake, and Stephanie Kane did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of our preserve, our resident wildlife, and the children and parents that enjoy our educational programming. We will use this video on our website, our facebook page, and as a way to introduce schools, parents, and visitors to our nature center.”

  -Eric Young, program director

  Project synopsis: This will be a 7-10 minute segmented video highlighting the educational service that Sweet Briar provides. It will show facilities and programs.

  Producer's Feedback: “Media Action Projects is the most realistic of all experiences that are provided within Hofstra’s courses. No other class offers a real look at how you would be working in the “real world” quite like Media Action Projects.

  -Scott Levine, ‘10
• 911 by 2011

  “We wanted to create a promotional video highlighting an Oral History Program designed to capture the oral histories of 911 World Trade Center Responders. We needed a video that didn’t sensationalize but instead informed in a respectful way. The students were great. They fully grasped the sensitivities involved immediately. We can’t say enough good things about this joint activity.”

  -Benjamin Luft, M.D., principal investigator, LI WTC Monitoring and Treatment Program

  Project synopsis: (This video project is intended for web use by the client in the future.) The first section will include a brief overview of the organization. The second section will be interviews with the 9/11 responders documenting their memories of the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center.

  View the videos at http://www.911respondersremember.org

  Producer's Feedback: “Working with a not-for-profit was a great experience. It allowed us as students to really understand the process of creating something with guidelines of a ‘higher power’. It forces us to think more about editing and shooting decisions because now our professors aren’t the only ones seeing it.”

  -Andrew Wright, ‘10