There was a lot of excitement going around Specs Howard School last week because Channel 7 was here to tape our new ad campaign to promote our upcoming “Walk-in Week” (Aug. 6-10) and Open House (Aug. 8) for prospective students.
It was really great to see so many recent grads taking such an active approach in launching their careers. My sincere thanks to those that came out and took part in interviews with old pal Warren Pierce. It really was an impressive group. In addition, Internship Advisor Katie Peters put together a great group of interns to basically be themselves in front of the camera.
Fallon Jamil (pictured right) has been busy chasing after her dream long before she graduated this past January. She started out interning as a production assistant on Ross Marroso’s Osama Bin Latte (another one of our exceptional grads), modeling for the school and even put her previous career as a cosmetologist to use by doing hair and make-up at a couple of TV commercial shoots.
Since she graduated, she’s been to the Grammy Awards to interview celebrities on the red carpet as a citizen journalist, apprenticed at SWOCC Oakland Cable Commission Center and has been in several television commercials, most notably as an on-air host and marketer for a series of product spots titled, Shop Smart, which will be airing on My TV 20 Detroit.
Chris McLeod (pictured left) started a freelance career working as a production assistant and grip before he even graduated from Specs Howard last September. Since then he has continued freelancing on projects for Comcast, NBA Films, Comerica, Ford Motor Company and Habitat for Humanity. While Chris prefers to work behind the scenes, it seems we're determined to put him in front of the camera. By the way, Chris, you did a great job!
Tom Slaski and Sean Redenz are both 2007 graduates that have jumped right in to pursuing careers in filmmaking.
Tom Slaski (pictured right), who graduated in March, has worked as a production assistant, grip, and weapons assistant since joining the crew of InZero: Fragile Wings.
InZero: Fragile Wings is a full-length feature film being produced by Thought Collide, a local production company headed up by yet another grad, Jamie Sonderman.
Sean Redenz (pictured left) actually began working on the feature as an intern and while he was still a student was promoted to Assistant Director. Sean just graduated in June!
Thanks to Jamie, working on the film has been a great learning experience for students, graduates and even staff members that have been involved.
The feature is expected to be released in 2008 and will make the film festival circuit!
Grad Nicole Sylvester is also a filmmaker and owner of Autumn Rain Features. It was so good of her to make the time to come in and be interviewed since she was right in the middle of preparing to move her film company to New York City.
Nicole recently completed two feature films, Layla’s Girl and 16000 Block, that are making the rounds at various film festivals, including the very well known Tribeca event.
Pictured left with Admissions Representative Renee Vitale is grad Jay Hudson, who came in to represent the radio side. After working as weekend air talent at the RIFF for several years, he was hired on by 89X to take over the 7-to-midnight shift full time and within a few months, he became Music Director as well.
In addition to her duties here at Specs, Renee Vitale is on the air at WDVD 96.3 FM on the weekends so she is always a natural when it comes to representing the school on-camera. This time around, the topic revolved around schools that accept credits earned at Specs Howard, so our students and grads have a head start when they wish to go on to earn a college degree. (Click here for a complete list of participating colleges and universities.)
Specs grad Amanda LeClaire also came in to talk about her job in the news department at WDET. In addition to reporting, Amanda produces several talk shows, including Detroit Today, the station’s excellent daily public affairs show. And to think, she began working at WDET as an intern.
Radio Department Supervisor John Stockwell and Video Department Supervisor Brad Richter each represented our amazing faculty. The quality of our instructors is inspiring!
Many thanks to the crew from Channel 7 (WXYZ-TV). Host Warren Pierce is always a pleasure to work with and Producer Tammy Sortor always does an amazing job.
Also many thanks to our student interns: Karen Skoczen, Ilona Fenke, Jenna Bommarito, Kyle Horner, Jamie Harris, Luke Hursh, Grigol Gogava, Rana Zdrojewski, and Robert Hunacek. Also a special thanks to staffers Johnny Robinson, Jon Kavalos and Katie Peters for stepping in front of the camera as well. You're all rock stars!
The ad campaign on Channel 7 runs next week!
