Southeastern students win two Emmy Awards
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 
by: Tonya Lowentritt
SOUTHEASTERN STUDENTS WIN EMMY AWARDS- Southeastern Louisiana University students were recently honored with prestigious Emmy Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Suncoast Region. Pictured, from left, are Rick Settoon, Southeastern Channel general manager and class instructor; Steven Farmer of Ponchatoula; Amanda Triay of Mandeville, Amanda Kitch of Covington, Trevor Vampran of Prairieville, Jonathan Calhoun of Baton Rouge, and Steve Zaffuto, channel operations manager and class instructor.
HAMMOND – For the fifth straight year, student-produced programs for the Southeastern
Channel, Southeastern Louisiana University’s educational access station, have won
coveted Emmy Awards.
“Insomniac,” a short film by Amanda Triay of Big Branch, won an Emmy in the “Long
Form (Fiction)” category while “Drink A Beer,” a music video by Trevor Vampran of
Prairieville, won in the “Photographer” category.
Both films were produced as assignments in field video production classes in
the Electronic Media Concentration of Southeastern’s Department of Languages and Communication.
Instructors were Southeastern Channel General Manager Rick Settoon and Steve Zaffuto,
channel operations manager. The films air on the Southeastern Channel as part of the
student film show “Cinematheque.”
“Working with the Southeastern Channel has exposed me to a variety of filming
scenarios,” Vampran said. “I’ve worked on everything from football games to ballet
recitals. I learned something new from each Southeastern Channel production. I was
able to learn a lot of diverse production strategies in a short amount of time.”
The productions were recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and
Sciences in the Suncoast Region comprised of television stations and production entities
in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Puerto Rico.
“Insomniac” is a psychological thriller that tells the story of William, who
can’t sleep after a tragic accident has left his fiancée in a coma. William is haunted
by a spirit who tells him the only way he can sleep again is to kill her.
“It’s unbelievable,” Triay said. “I’m excited and ecstatic and don’t even quite
know how to feel. I just feel so blessed. I now know there are no limits to my future
work.”
Triay produced, directed, shot, edited and created special effects makeup for
the film. Her fiancée, Christian Carlin a Southeastern student from Folsom, wrote
the screenplay and contributed an original musical score. Ethan Wooley of Covington
played the part of William, while Alison Kemp of Miami, played the haunting spirit.
Vampran was not only the cinematographer, but also the producer, director and
editor for “Drink A Beer,” a popular song by country artist Luke Bryan dedicated to
his brother and sister who passed away early in his career.
“I feel honored and proud that my work showed Emmy-level excellence and quality,”
Vampran said. “It has already made me personally proud and given me huge motivation
to keep striving for greatness in photography.”
In Vampran’s video the lead character, played by fellow communication student
Adam Hebert of Prairieville, constantly returns to his favorite spot on the river
where he drinks a beer and reflects on happy memories shared there with his best friend,
a police officer who has just died in the line of duty. The deceased friend is played
by Dillon Thompson, an East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy.
Vampran’s cinematography features the use of early-morning, natural light coupled
with panoramic landscapes filmed at his grandparents’ house in the Maurepas swamp
on the Amite River.
“In a way it’s a symbol of who I am as a person and videographer,” Vampran said.
“I got to capture some of the natural beauty of Louisiana in a way that I can show
the world. It really shows that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help from
my family and friends.”
Vampran is a cancer survivor who has been cancer-free for five years. He does
promotional spots for St. Jude’s Hospital and was featured in renowned filmmaker Ken
Burns’ documentary “The Emperor of All Maladies.”
NATAS awards Emmys to those productions achieving excellence in television at
the highest level. Winners are selected after rounds of judging against the Emmy standard
of excellence, not against other productions. Categories with nominees often have
no winner.
“The Emmy is the highest honor you can receive in television,” said Settoon.
“Since so few are given, we’re absolutely thrilled that Amanda and Trevor are deservedly
joining such elite company with this highest reward for their talent, creativity and
hard work. Their quality is such that you’d never think these were student productions.”
Triay also won honorable mention Emmy recognition in the “Music Video” category
for her video, “Heathens.” Three other Southeastern Channel students received honorable
mention Emmy honors.
Steven Farmer of Ponchatoula was honored in the “Editor” category for his music
video, “Perfect,” and in the “Photographer” category for his videography composite.
Amanda Kitch of Covington won an honorable mention Emmy for “Public Service Announcement”
with her PSA, “A Stronger You.” Jonathan Calhoun of Baton Rouge won an honorable mention
for his PSA “Words Hurt.”
The Southeastern Channel has won 15 Emmys with 56 nominations in the past 12
years. It has won over 300 national, international and regional awards during that
span. The channel can be seen on Charter Cable Channel 199 in Tangipahoa, Livingston
and St. Tammany parishes. The live 24/7 webcast and video on demand can be seen at
www.southeastern.edu/tv and on mobile devices at www.southeastern.edu/tv/live.
