2010-2011

News Release

REF NO.: 112

SUBJECT: DELT seeks future producers, directors, mediamogul-types, to pitch@Memorial

DATE: February 7, 2011

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador have the guts and gumption to pull off just about anything, and Memorial University’s Distance Education and Learning Technologies (DELT) unit believes the province’s students are no different – especially when it comes to the arts.
The unit is daring Memorial University students to submit their ideas for a 3-5 minute movie illustrating the role technology plays in their current educational experience, and how they see technology fitting into education in the future. The pITch@Memorial video contest is a great career opportunity for students who are itching to break into filmmaking, video production and multimedia.
“There is a history of contributing to the media and film sector in this unit, so it’s natural that we’d like to continue in that vein,” said Ann Marie Vaughan, director of DELT. “We’re seeking ideas for short videos that aren’t very conventional, but cutting edge, extremely imaginative and creative and that push the boundaries of technology in education.”
The top five written entries will continue on to participate in a Dragon’s Den-style live pitch session, during which students will tell a panel of well-known judges who work in film production, criticism and multimedia why their idea should be produced. The session will be broadcast throughout campus and will be available online for a public vote. The top student will receive a paid summer internship in the DELT studio where they will work with a mentor to shoot and produce their video. That student will also receive a brand new iPad at the end of the summer.
DELT director/producer John Bonnell will be the student mentor, and looks forward to both offering advice to and learning from the successful applicant.
“There are a variety of career possibilities within the media services division of DELT, including producer/director, audio technician, videographer, editor, animator, multimedia developer and graphic designer,” said Mr. Bonnell. “I’m always impressed by the creativity and enthusiasm of our students – it can be infectious at times.”
The winner will have access to DELT’s state-of-the-art production facility – Newfoundland and Labrador’s only fully-HD studio, which houses AVID Nitros editing suites, a variety of backdrops and curtains, a white cyclorama and a 400 square foot green screen. The studio contains all the equipment required to produce everything from multi-camera event coverage to documentaries. 
Stay tuned to pITch@Memorial’s website (www.distance.mun.ca/pitch) for updates and surprise announcements. The top five finalists, as well as the all-star celebrity panellists, will be revealed in March.

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