Two national awards for local TV excellence were awarded for a live concert produced by the California State University, Fresno Department of Mass Communication and Journalism in collaboration with the California State University Summer Arts program and broadcast on PBS affiliate KVPT, channel 18.
“Summer Arts Celebrates the Blues” won the Silver Telly in the competition’s Live Event category, said Don Priest, the producer and chair of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism. It’s the first university production so honored, Priest added.
“Breath of Life,” a harmonica piece within the show, won a Bronze Telly in the Documentary category.
Silver Telly awards, judged by top video production and advertising people and by former winners, have for 27 years honored local TV programs, video productions and commercials throughout the United States. The Silver Tellys go to category winners and Bronze Tellys to runners-up.
“Summer Arts Celebrates the Blues,” performed at the Tower Theatre in midtown Fresno featured Steve Ono and Eddie Gordon, Three Guys Playin’ the Blues and the Mofo Party Band.
The concert and live TV show were the culmination of the CSU Summer Arts Program’s live television production course, coordinated by veteran Hollywood director Howard Ritter and taught by professionals with years of experience in live TV production. The 20 students enrolled in the course handled the cameras, lighting, staging and sound.
The CSU Summer Arts program returns to Fresno State in July 2006 for two series of two-week courses that will attract about 500 students and feature more than 40 public performances.
For more information contained in this release, please go to the following Web sites: www.csusummerarts.org and www.tellyawards.com/.
