Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Channel wins two Emmys

Contact: Christina Chapple

12/12/08

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     The channel won Emmys for two spots created by videographer-editor Josh Kapusinski promoting the channel’s “Northshore Gems” travel show and its recently-redesigned Web site and 24-hour webcast.

     The winners were announced Dec. 6 in Orlando by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Competition included nominees from television stations and production companies in the Suncoast Region -- Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Puerto Rico.

     “Winning six Emmys and 18 Emmy nominations in the past four years is unprecedented for a university television channel,” said Southeastern Interim President John L. Crain. “It reflects the diligence and expertise of the channel’s staff and its very high standard of quality television production.”

     The regional Emmy is the highest honor that local and regional television stations can win since national competition is open only to major television channels and networks broadcasting to 75 percent of the national population. The Southeastern Channel won more Emmys than any other commercial or non-commercial television channel in Louisiana for the second year in a row.

     “The Emmy is the most prestigious and sought-after award in television, and it’s a terrific honor to receive such unique acclaim for a university television station among very large commercial and public television stations,” said General Manager Rick Settoon.

     “There is no more deserving winner than Josh Kapusinski,” Settoon added.  “His promos continually break new artistic and creative ground, and these winning spots again reflect his talent and work ethic. Josh’s efforts represent the channel’s dedication to producing the highest quality possible for our audience.”

     Kapusinski, who was also an Emmy winner in 2006, conceptualized and edited, animated and created graphics for the winning spots. His “Northshore Gems” promo won in the “Promotion-Program-Single Spot-Campaign” category.  It promotes the local travel show with, in Kapsusinski’s words, “a fly-through of travel destinations on the north shore containing two-dimensional cutouts of landmarks, people and animated animals.” 

     “This spot also contains text which weaves its way through each destination which I think is an appealing aspect because the text is placed and positioned as if it interacts with the environment, and in some instances it does,” Kapusinski said.  “I tried to keep the elements moving at all times in order to visually stimulate the viewer.  This is a busy spot with lots going on in both the background and foreground.  There is always movement somewhere.”

     Kapusinski’s “Surfing the Internet” spot won in the “Promotion-Image-Station” category.  The promo has the unique look of using paper cutouts to create an aquatic rollercoaster for a surfer in search of a wireless Internet connection.

     “The spot was initially created fully on a computer, but I wanted a more unique appearance, and so I started experimenting with paper cutouts,” Kapusinski said.  “I would draw a fish on the computer, print it out, and then cut it out with scissors and scan it back into my computer to have the fish obtain a paper texture.  Then I would cut out certain parts of the fish, like a fin or the mouth, and animate it.”

     The Southeastern Channel can be seen on Charter Cable Channel 18 in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, and Livingston parishes, on Channel 17 in Washington Parish, and online at www.selu.edu/tv.