Recent Blog Posts
May 5, 2008
Hollywood in Studio One
Winston Tharp, BECA's Head Television Engineer sent some interesting information (and speculation!) about BECA Studio 1:
The history of the SFSU BECA Department's television Studio One (CA-128) includes its use for production of at least two major Hollywood feature films, THX 1138 (1971) and The Candidate (1972).
George Lucas's feature film remake of his USC student film, THX 1138 was shot in 1969 and released in 1971. His rumored use of SFSU's TV studio as a location seemingly was never acknowledged and has been hard to pin down.
Herb Zettl had heard the same rumor I had about the THX 1138 connection but was unable to authenticate it for me, so I went to the Internet and came up with two pieces of information which seem to confirm it.
From American Cinematographer, in October 1971:
“The THX 1138 company traveled to no less than 22 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, filming in such places as the Oakland Coliseum, the San Francisco Pacific Gas and Electric Building, the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, and the various tunnels and tubes of the a-building BART system...a tumor research center in San Jose, where there was a four-million-volt linear accelerator and a laser treatment machine...the cathedral sequence near the end of the picture that was actually shot in a TV studio.”
(from http://www.scoopy.com/thx1138.htm)
Is this THX-1138 Cathedral Sequence being shot in the BECA Department's Studio One? It looks like Studio One to me (probably shot from the catwalk), but only George Lucas or one of his cast or crew members would know for sure. In contrast, Studio One's role as the location for the debate scene in Robert Redford's The Candidate is not itself open to debate; it occupies an entire chapter in Bruce Bahrenburg's 1972 book Filming "The Candidate." Not only were studio space and technical facilities used, but students and staff became extras. BECA's Television Engineer, Dave Wiseman, was cast in the part of the pollster, as director Michael Ritchie describes in the book: "'I needed someone who was going to look bored.' Ritchie went up to the man who looked most bored on the set, had him read the few lines, and in fifteen minutes the part was cast."
According to Herb Zettl, the department received equipment in lieu of payment from Redford's production company (unfortunately, the equipment was stolen not long after, so BECA didn't profit in a material sense from its experience with Hollywood).
Thanks again to Winston Tharp for this contribution
posted by Scott 5/05/2008 12:28:00 PM
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May 2, 2008
MANDATORY SUMMER INTERNSHIP MEETING!!!!
Don't forget! If you want to intern AND take BECA 576 you MUST attend the May 8th Mandatory Meeting in CA 128 at 12n. It's your one and only chance to get the necessary information before the summer begins!
Labels: Intern deadline/program info.
posted by Camacho 5/02/2008 04:56:00 AM
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April 30, 2008
Popular Online Sitcom Wants YOU!
Here's a great opportunity to participate in the creation of an episode of "Break a Leg" — one of the hottest online TV shows.
Extras (and other helping hands) are needed this Saturday for a shoot in Sebastopol. Contact Yuri@breakaleg.tv for directions.
New-media fans and practitioners shouldn't miss this chance to get in on the fun (and, of course, the LEARNING). Be sure to mention you're a BECA person!
posted by Marie Drennan 4/30/2008 05:22:00 PM
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April 26, 2008
Summer Video Editing Opportunity
JOB OPPORTUNITY during the Bay Area Multicultural Media Academy (June 15 to June 28, 2008) http://www.ciij.org/workshops?id=1787
BAMMA is an intensive two-week summer journalism workshop in which 12 Bay Area high school students live on campus and produce the Golden Gate Xpress 2.0. The workshop offers college journalists a great opportunity to mentor high school journalists. All jobs are full-time 40 hour/week temporary positions. Hours vary, and include some evenings and weekends. All BAMMA staff must attend a meeting at SFSU on Monday, June 9 at 1 p.m. Lunch will be served.
ASSISTANT VIDEO EDITORS (two positions)
Description: Assist BAMMA participants in developing news sources, write, shoot and edit stories.
Salary: $1,000.00 stipend for two week assignment.
Requirements Digital video journalism experience, editing skills.
Submit a cover letter stating interest, resume and two professional references to:
Zoneil Maharaj.
Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue, HUM 307
San Francisco, CA 94132
ciijhs@sfsu.edu (415) 338-2542
Deadline: 12 noon Friday, May 2, 2008
Labels: Job Opportunity
posted by Camacho 4/26/2008 05:06:00 PM
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April 23, 2008
Thailand Video Airs on Community TV
"Beautiful Thailand," a video documentary addressing the Thai perspective on the environment, will air on a local community TV station to help celebrate Earth Week. The documentary, produced in BECA 580 - Media and Community Service in Thailand in June of 2007, will be seen on Millbrae Community TV on April 29th from 2:00-2:30 PM, 4:00-4:30 PM, and 6:00-6:30 PM, and on May 1 from 5:00-5:30 PM. Students in BECA 580 traveled to Thailand to work with the Thai Society for the Conservation of Wild Animals (TSCWA), an organization that restores animals to the wild. The class produced two short pieces for the TSCWA to use in their educational efforts. In addition, students took the initiative to produce two longer documentaries addressing environmental issues. "Beautiful Thailand" is one of the documentaries. Jennifer Chow, who completed her BECA major in May of 2007, served as producer of the documentary. Maria Hanafy, Eva Kane, Melinda Quesenberry, Paul Weigand, and Roman Zepeda completed the production team. Professor Betsy Blosser and Ms. Sonia De La Cruz co-taught the class.
Labels: BECA 580, Media and Community Service
posted by Betsy J. Blosser 4/23/2008 07:53:00 PM
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Interested in a Career in Media Sales?
Meet and mingle with more than a dozen media sales professionals (radio, television, advertising) today (April 23rd) at 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in Studio One. (Extremely light refreshments will be served.)
This event is brought to you by CSB and the top-secret Media Management Society.
Labels: Events
posted by Professor Miriam 4/23/2008 01:15:00 AM
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BECA Undergrad on "The New Price is Right"
BECA's own Susan McNertney will appear the "The New Price is Right," Wednesday, April 23rd. Susan became a contestant on the famed game show while visiting Los Angeles as part of BECA 395, Close Up on LA.
BECA alum, Roger Dobkowitz, is the producer of the show.
posted by Professor Miriam 4/23/2008 01:07:00 AM
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April 22, 2008
ABC Talent Development & Diversity seeking Diverse Writer's Assistant Candidates
Disney•ABC Talent Development & Diversity Seeking Diverse Writer's Assistant Candidates
ABC is now accepting resumes for diverse writer's assistant candidates. This program was created in answer to various ABC, ABC Family and Disney Channel Executive Producers' desire to increase the diversity of their writing staffs. Disney•ABC Talent Development & Diversity will provide productions hiring diverse writer's assistants up to nine months of salary reimbursement for the candidate. Past candidates have been staffed on Disney•ABC Television Group series such as: "Men in Trees," "Lincoln Heights" and "Kyle XY."
Ideal candidates should have a passion for television, and interest in writing for the medium, and though it is not required, it is helpful if candidates have had exposure to the television production process. Upon receipt of resumes, qualified candidates will be entered into a database. Should writer's assistant positions become available, Disney•ABC Talent Development and Diversity will submit potential candidates to inquiring showrunners.
Please submit resumes to: abc.fellowships@abc.com
Labels: Great Fellowship Opportunities
posted by Camacho 4/22/2008 11:05:00 PM
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April 18, 2008
MANDATORY SUMMER INTERNSHIP MEETING!!!!
If you are planning to intern this summer, you MUST ATTEND the summer internship meeting on Thursday May 8th at 12n in CA 128. If you do not attend this meeting you will not be able to take the course this summer.
Questions? Contact Dr. Melissa Camacho at mcamacho@sfsu.edu.
Labels: Intern deadline/program info.
posted by Camacho 4/18/2008 09:38:00 PM
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BECA Student Goes on for Ph.D.
Sonia De La Cruz, who earned both her B.A. and M.A. from the BECA Department, has been admitted to a Ph.D. program at the University of Oregon for the Fall of 2008. Sonia completed her M.A last spring, with video documentary entitled, "Working Hands," which addresses the situation of the migrant farmworker in California. Immediately afterwards, she traveled to Thailand with the BECA 580 - Media in Community Service course in which she directed production for both of the environmental videos that class produced for the Thai Society for the Conservation of Wild Animals. This year, Sonia continues her work as a union organizer while running her own production company. In addition, Sonia is directing production for BECA 580's spring project for the San Francisco Conservation Corps. She is also working with Professor Betsy Blosser to prepare the students for their upcoming trip to Guatemala.
At the University of Oregon, Sonia's adviser will be Dr. Gabriela Martínez, an assistant professor, who also earned her B.A. and M.A. from the BECA Department. As a BECA graduate student, Dr. Martínez created the international portion of the Media and Community Service course, and directed class productions in Cusco, Peru, in two different years. Sonia will be in good hands in Oregon!
Labels: BECA 580, Media and Community Service, Student, Video
posted by Betsy J. Blosser 4/18/2008 12:08:00 PM
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