Goshen College students film ‘A Festival of Carols,’ to be aired on WNIT Dec. 23 and 25

 

GOSHEN, Ind. – Anyone who missed the celebrative “A Festival of Carols” at Goshen College earlier this holiday season should not despair. Michiana can see a broadcast of the concert on local public television station WNIT on Friday, Dec. 23 at 9 p.m. and repeating on Christmas Day, Dec. 25 at 4 p.m.

The broadcast was filmed by a crew of 10 Goshen College communication majors, under the direction of Associate Professor of Communication Ron Johnson, who volunteered their time to work behind the four cameras, operate the sound and edit the final cut. “We want to develop more advanced skill sets in our students that will make them more attractive to future employers,” Johnson said, noting that the college’s music department and Music Center were also pleased to share their festive program beyond the three live performances.

Brenda Bowyer, senior producer for WNIT, said, “This helps to showcase local talent and local arts and culture. It extends our capacity and resources, and it is part of our mission.”

This experience helped the students move from a very controlled, scripted filming environment to a live, multi-camera situation,” Johnson said. “They had to exercise a lot of creativity and find new angles and perspectives to shoot from, while keeping in mind that they always have to have the camera’s exposure and focus set correctly.” Each of the students contributed 15 to 20 hours of labor to make the broadcast happen.

Zac Miller, a sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., had some experience working behind the camera in classes and the on-campus television news broadcast “GCJournal,” but had the opportunity for hands-on learning for filming “A Festival of Carols.” Though he was a bit nervous during the concert, he said, “it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed working backstage and it gave me a new perspective on the broadcast experience.”

By recording it as though it were being aired live, and then doing some polishing to edit the production, the students not only gained the incredible experience of learning what that kind of filming takes, but also saved considerable time in the editing room later. “This creates a partnership that provides the opportunity for our students to work alongside our own faculty and staff and also with the professional industry,” Johnson said. “If this is done well once, it opens up creative potentials for the future.”

Bowyer added, “We are embarking on a new and exciting partnership.”

One of the camera operators, Elizabeth Rogers, a freshman from London, Ohio, said, “I am interested in film studies and this was my first opportunity to work in this kind of setting. It reinforced my interest.”

People who tune in to the WNIT broadcast can expect to see and hear a delightful program featuring Christmas favorites performed by the Goshen College Chamber Choir, Chorale, Men’s Chorus, Women’s World Music Choir and Orchestra. Also performing are Goshen College music department professors, students and Shout for Joy, a Community School of the Arts children’s choir. The concert also included ample opportunity for audience participation and singing.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

 

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu/.