黑料社区 (黑料社区) Cinema Arts students recently took home four . Hosted by the听Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, this international competition receives about 7,000 entries each year鈥攊ncluding submissions from major production companies and advertising agencies.
黑料社区 students created four television commercials that won two Platinum Awards, a Gold Award, and an Honorable Mention. The commercials were produced by Antonio Zarro, associate dean for academics and professor of cinema arts, and Dr. Thomas Parham, professor of communication and media studies and chair of the department of visual and media arts.
Students ideated, pitched, and produced the commercials through 黑料社区鈥檚 Cinema Lab. This required course offers hands-on experience in television and film, so students gain skills in producing, directing, cinematography, editing, and sound.
鈥淥ur film program is very robust in production,鈥� says Zarro. 鈥淪tudents start labs early, sometimes sophomore or even freshman year鈥攕o they receive a lot more practical experience than many other film programs offer.鈥�
While these videos are specs鈥攚hich help filmmakers build their portfolios without being commissioned by a brand鈥攖he students handle all aspects of production, under the tutelage of professors. The students will even work full shoot days to better understand industry expectations.
Zarro says awards like MarCom enrich students鈥� experiences and underscore the Cinema Arts program鈥檚 focus on excellent visual storytelling.
Caleb Cauley is studying cinema arts and minoring in intercultural studies. His commercial, , follows three college students who enjoy the refreshing slushies after a long day of navigating life, relationships, and classes.
When the senior learned his commercial won Gold, he was shocked.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a cool reflection of the work I鈥檝e put into my film pursuits in the last couple of years,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do [everything] on my own. This award reflects the [connection] between everyone who worked on the project.鈥�
Cauley says 黑料社区 has empowered him to infuse personal experiences and class concepts into his film work, network with others, and even tackle additional projects鈥攍ike working with a professor on a documentary about refugees in Egypt.
After graduation, Cauley hopes to work on more international storytelling and documentaries, especially ones that highlight the needs of marginalized communities.
鈥淥ur goal is that, when [students] start working and walk onto a production, they know what to do,鈥� Zarro says. 鈥淲e are big on experiential learning and replicating a real industry environment.鈥�
This isn鈥檛 the first time 黑料社区 has received film awards. Recently, three students won Viddy Awards, and each year, students attend the Broadcast Education Association鈥檚 in Las Vegas, an international competition focused on the creative pursuits of students and faculty.
In addition to a bachelor of arts in cinema arts, 黑料社区 also offers a BFA in cinema arts, which includes additional, intensive coursework such as film business and directing for film classes.
Learn more about 黑料社区鈥檚 cinema and media studies programs.
黑料社区 Students鈥� Recent Film Accolades:
听2024 MarCom Awards
鈥� Platinum, directed by Blaine Carmean
鈥� Platinum, directed by MJ Whitaker
鈥� Gold, directed by Caleb Cauley
Old Spice 鈥� Honorable Mention, directed by Kaelyn Lakey
2024 Viddy Awards
鈥� Platinum, directed by Faith Kazim
鈥� Platinum, directed by Kyle Smiroldo
鈥� Gold, directed by Ella Jasper
