The students got started during the spring 2019 semester, producing two episodes of\u00a0Carpe Diem<\/em>\u00a0featuring live Outpost performances, both at the church and in-studio, plus artist interviews.<\/p>\n SCM Professor\u00a0David Sanders<\/a>\u00a0taught the Television Production Company class last spring with\u00a0Patricia Piroh<\/a>, executive producer of\u00a0Carpe Diem<\/em>. Since Piroh was promoted in fall 2019 to director of production services and technology, Broadcast and Media Operations, Sanders is now teaching the class with fellow SCM Professor\u00a0Stuart MacLelland<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe show includes a taping of a live concert performance, a backstage interview with the headline artist, a studio performance of an upcoming act, and a studio interview with that act \u2014 so that the students get the experience of doing a live concert recording, a backstage field interview, a studio interview, and a three-camera studio shoot of a musical artist,\u201d says Sanders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an incredible experience for our students to not only produce the show but to work with Outpost and with big-name artists who are expecting a professional experience,\u201d says Piroh. \u201cThe students need to do their research and be extremely prepared when they interview these artists.\u201d<\/p>\n Montclair State and Outpost in the Burbs have cross-pollinated numerous times over the past three decades. Sanders notes that Outpost President David Amlen, founder of Sound on Sound Studios, \u201cdoes light and sound for Outpost and he teaches music recording and mixing at Montclair State.\u201d Outpost Trustee Robert Halper has worked as an assistant professor of Television and Digital Media at Montclair State. Another Outpost Trustee, Al Mercuro \u201974, has been booking bands since his days at Montclair State and is excited to see students from his alma mater participating in the series: \u201cI think it\u2019s a natural,\u201d says Mercuro, \u201chaving the students work the concerts.\u201d<\/p>\n The students agree: Jennifer Wagner produced one of the 2019\u00a0Carpe Diem<\/em>\u00a0Outpost episodes. \u201cMy involvement with Outpost in the Burbs was my first off-campus student project,\u201d says Wagner. \u201cIt really taught me that preparation is one of the most important things in any production. With the help of David Sanders and [School of Communication and Media News Producer] Steve McCarthy, we were able to create a piece that highlights a great cause and music that is sure to make you feel good. My overall experience was incredible and I\u2019m so glad to have been a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Beyond the technical skills that students can learn and practice, Outpost Trustee Gail Prusslin says there\u2019s more to the relationship: \u201cThe collaboration is central to the mission of our organization to build community through volunteerism, service, partnerships and live music. The partnership not only gives the students an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in many facets of broadcasting and production, but it also offers them a unique experience to work with a local nonprofit, all-volunteer organization.\u201d<\/p>\n John Hammond, head of marketing and digital for Missing Piece Group, books the acts at Outpost and put the collaboration together. \u201cOur goal was to tie into the production and journalism talent within the School of Communication and Media to develop great content and features on some Outpost performers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese days it\u2019s super important to have an ongoing flow of content across different channels and media,\u201d explains Hammond. \u201cAs a volunteer, nonprofit organization, we\u2019ve been looking to build out our YouTube channel specifically and these first couple of productions from last season definitely achieved the goals we were looking to hit.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Hammond and Prusslin were impressed by SCM students.<\/p>\n \u201cThe production crews who worked on the different shoots last spring were professional and talented, easy to work with and ready to roll with the punches of working with different artists, temperaments and schedules,\u201d says Hammond. \u201cI hope they also valued the experience they got in producing these pieces. I think everyone sees the value in building a great, varied portfolio of different pieces when they get into the professional world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is an absolute delight to work with the students,\u201d says Prusslin, noting their professionalism and preparedness. \u201cWe are thrilled to be able to provide them with an opportunity and we look forward to future collaborations.\u201d<\/p>\n Story by\u00a0<\/em>Mary Barr Mann<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n CARPE DIEM: Outpost in the Burbs \u2014\u00a0Part 1. Performances and interviews featuring David Bromberg and The Campfire Flies.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2020\/01\/2020-01-15_lights-camera-outpost-2.png.2.1x.generic.jpg\")
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