Thomas Lee, graduate from Northwestern University, a student in one of my web design classes, ex-NUAMPS student employee, has been dedicated to becoming a top photo-journalist since leaving NU. This week, his work is featured on line and in the magazine with his photos about the tuna industry and the impending population crash and environmental disaster from eating and harvesting too many Bluefin Tuna. Congratulations to Thomas on the great feature on a very important topic.

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This morning I am off to China, for the equipment delivery of a new camera digitization platform, and to initiate two weeks of training for the Dunhuang Academy mural grotto digitization team. Below is a picture taken in the grottoes last summer when we were on the initial proposal development planning grant.

The planning grant resulted in a a successful implementation grant proposal that was awarded in January of this year. I have the honor of being the P.I. on this project, and I was joined last summer, as I will be on this trip by Stefani Foster, my project director for this implementation and training phase. We have spent the last several months working with Seno and Jiro Moussely of Modern Studio Equipment out of Los Angeles.

We’re excited about seeing the new design and fabrication put into use for the digitization efforts being initiated by the Dunhuang Academy.

The whole team that will be going with Stefani and I are NUIT A&RT employee Chris Wallace, and long time outside contractor on our Chinese projects, China veteran and photographer Jim Prinz. We will be updating the progress of our trips and activities here on thie blog over the next two weeks.

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Hello!  My name is Mark Skala, and I am delighted to be a new staff member at NUAMPS.  I originally hail from Oak Lawn, a suburb just southwest of the city.  I went to school at Bradley University in Peoria, and ended up with a degree in Multimedia with a concentration in video.  I graduated in May of ‘08, and shortly after that I moved to the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.  Being the ex-station manager of Bradley’s student radio station, I am very into music of all sorts.  I consider myself a beer enthusiast, I used to play racquetball, and I whistle everywhere I go.  (I actually can’t stop.)  But at the end of the day my only true love is video, and I am extremely excited to be a new addition to the NUAMPS team!

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We are capturing, broadcasting on NUCH1, webcasting to the web and the Chicago campus, President Bienen’s final State of the University speech. We have an all hands on deck, full metal jacket team here in the McTrib Medill auditorium. To watch the webcast on Real, the info and link is here: http://www.northwestern.edu/president/

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Our dear Jon (circa 2006- seriously, it’s been up there that long), courtesy of one D. LaBrecque.

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We do a lot of work with the NU Symphony Orchestra and with YouTube, so the mention of a YouTube Virtual Symphony Orchestra intrigued us. Musicians were asked to submit videos of themselves playing a piece by composer Tan Dun. Winners of the competition will perform at Carnegie Hall, and the video submissions will be used to create a mashup video. A&RT’s own Rodolfo Vieira is a finalist. You can hear his submission (and vote for him) by visiting http://www.youtube.com/symphony, clicking on ‘Vote’, and searching for “mscd000″.

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Christopher Wickman, senior RTVF Major and NUAMPS Video Production Specialist, was recently selected to direct the annual Niteskool music video featuring the song “20 Somethin’ Baby” by The Bob Hill Band.

Every year, Niteskool produces one of the largest film productions on campus in the form of a music video.  Through fundraising and a grant from the Deans Advisory Council they raise roughly $20,000 to create this great opportunity for students at NU.

Chris originally came to the Film Program because of his love for editing.  In high school he acquired Sony’s editing program Vegas, and began making movies with his friends.  Since then, he has taken many classes specializing in all areas of film production.  He edited the Niteskool music video last year, directed by Chris Amos, a friend and fellow NUAMPS staff member.

Chris had a clear vision of the music video he wants to direct.  He knew that a lot of the other applicants for the role of director wanted to do a more traditional, narrative piece for the video.  He decided to take another approach.  “I want this to be an outrageous visual experience,” says Chris, “I want to make the audience feel like they like they are in the room with the band.”   Chris plans on using a super techno crane, choreographed dancers, slow motion, and the smashing of TV’s to bring his vision to fruition.  He says that they plan to start shooting in May, and that he is really excited about the project.

Chris, a senior, is another example of the exceptional talent we have on our staff here at NUAMPS, He has worked with us on our video production team since he was a Freshman here at NUIT A&RT NUAMPS  and we look forward to seeing the finished product!

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