Spring Break
Seniors in running for red carpet
Alysson Cwyk
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Have you ever watched a red-carpet awards show on television and thought "I could ask better questions than that guy?" Plenty of us have, which sparked the idea for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and mtvU to launch a national "Oscar Correspondent Contest" for college students to participate at the 81st Annual Academy Awards Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Drexel seniors Dylan Steinberg (Studies in Media Arts and Design) and Bruce Pinchbeck (Film/Video) are in the running to win the chance of a lifetime to work the red carpet at the Oscars.
"There was an e-mail sent out to all of the Film majors in the college. … Bruce and I had worked together [before] … so we figured it would be perfect for us," Steinberg said.
From Jan. 8-23, student teams comprised of one anchor and one videographer were encouraged to submit a video to mtvU and the Academy, proving to viewers why they should be chosen to document the Oscars for the college community. Out of all of the applicants, a panel of mtvU and Academy members chose the top ten teams from around the country and their videos are now streaming online for viewers to vote for their favorite pair to represent mtvU and their school Feb. 22.
"We wanted there to be a good representation of colleges and universities around the United States. I think we were looking for people who exhibited some poise and professionalism on camera. We were looking for good camera work from the other person on the team. And I think we were looking for a little creativity as well," Leslie Unger, director of Communications of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences explained of the decision making process.
When Pinchbeck heard that his video was selected as a finalist in the contest, he was ecstatic.
"I got a call from Dylan. He had gotten the first call from mtvU. And he was like, 'Remember that little video we worked on? We're top ten!' I was just in my car screaming," Pinchbeck laughed.
"There was an e-mail sent out to all of the Film majors in the college. … Bruce and I had worked together [before] … so we figured it would be perfect for us," Steinberg said.
From Jan. 8-23, student teams comprised of one anchor and one videographer were encouraged to submit a video to mtvU and the Academy, proving to viewers why they should be chosen to document the Oscars for the college community. Out of all of the applicants, a panel of mtvU and Academy members chose the top ten teams from around the country and their videos are now streaming online for viewers to vote for their favorite pair to represent mtvU and their school Feb. 22.
"We wanted there to be a good representation of colleges and universities around the United States. I think we were looking for people who exhibited some poise and professionalism on camera. We were looking for good camera work from the other person on the team. And I think we were looking for a little creativity as well," Leslie Unger, director of Communications of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences explained of the decision making process.
When Pinchbeck heard that his video was selected as a finalist in the contest, he was ecstatic.
"I got a call from Dylan. He had gotten the first call from mtvU. And he was like, 'Remember that little video we worked on? We're top ten!' I was just in my car screaming," Pinchbeck laughed.
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