Comm. students utilizes campus technology, studio
Tiffany Downing
Contributing Reporter
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Campus News
TSU's Communications department boasts a high-tech television studio and one student has decided to use it to her full benefit.
Kola Ellis, a senior mass communications major from Nashville, takes full advantage of the studio's existence by producing the first talk show broadcast by a student in the city, 360 Degrees with Kola E.
"I wanted to be effective and produce positive change, and my approach to educate and entertain is effective," Ellis said. "A changed, empowered mind results in a changed, empowered life."
360 Degrees with Kola E is a talk show that emphasizes youth empowerment. Ellis said the show is "entertaining and informative with a fashionable, energetic upbeat vibe."
The show contains several different elements, including Ellis as host, a live audience, a hype person, on-air opening and closing talents, and a red carpet segment that introduces the show's topic with thoughts from the audience.
"One thing I learned by making the show happen is that its not the quantity of people you have behind you, but the quality of people," Ellis said.
Pre-production and post-production crews were the most elaborate piece of Ellis' show. She had to gather people to make her dream a reality, often needing them to work long hours. It took six hours to shoot two shows in one day.
"It wasn't hard finding a production crew, the challenge was getting committed people," Ellis said.
The first step Ellis took to putting her show together was documenting every single aspect of the show on paper. Her next step was consulting with administrators and getting the approvals to go in production.
Ellis gained support not just by her TSU peers and teachers but from the Nashville community.
Various community centers showed their support by attending the show as audience members and local restaurant On the Grill provided food for the crew during the long production days.
"The execution of the total production was very good," said Donald Page, a professor in the communications department. "What I liked best about the show was the interesting topics; they had plenty of substance."
The show's topics ran the gamut from unprotected sex to gaining financial success, and during the interview segments many guests shared their stories, including rap artist Murphy Lee, American Idol contestant Corey Clark, plus size model Mi'ka Drake and millionaire Uchendi Nwani.
Audience members said what made the show so captivating was that the guests did not just share their successes, but also the obstacles they faced along the way.
"360 degrees with Kola E is so inspiring," said Joe Nelson, a former audience member from Antioch High school.
Ellis' show fulfilled not only her dream, but others who were interested in working firsthand with television production.
A talent coordinator, director, writer, reporter to a stylist, rapper and graphic designer were all necessary for the show's production.
"It was a great experience and I am glad I could be apart of her great and successful idea," said Kaylah Robinson, a junior mass communication major from Seattle, Wash. "Being the red carpet correspondent allowed me to understand the work of a reporter on and off air."
Twelve episodes of 360 Degrees with Kola E were shot over the past two semesters, and they are scheduled to be air beginning this summer on Channel 10, and TSU campus channel 98.•
Kola Ellis, a senior mass communications major from Nashville, takes full advantage of the studio's existence by producing the first talk show broadcast by a student in the city, 360 Degrees with Kola E.
"I wanted to be effective and produce positive change, and my approach to educate and entertain is effective," Ellis said. "A changed, empowered mind results in a changed, empowered life."
360 Degrees with Kola E is a talk show that emphasizes youth empowerment. Ellis said the show is "entertaining and informative with a fashionable, energetic upbeat vibe."
The show contains several different elements, including Ellis as host, a live audience, a hype person, on-air opening and closing talents, and a red carpet segment that introduces the show's topic with thoughts from the audience.
"One thing I learned by making the show happen is that its not the quantity of people you have behind you, but the quality of people," Ellis said.
Pre-production and post-production crews were the most elaborate piece of Ellis' show. She had to gather people to make her dream a reality, often needing them to work long hours. It took six hours to shoot two shows in one day.
"It wasn't hard finding a production crew, the challenge was getting committed people," Ellis said.
The first step Ellis took to putting her show together was documenting every single aspect of the show on paper. Her next step was consulting with administrators and getting the approvals to go in production.
Ellis gained support not just by her TSU peers and teachers but from the Nashville community.
Various community centers showed their support by attending the show as audience members and local restaurant On the Grill provided food for the crew during the long production days.
"The execution of the total production was very good," said Donald Page, a professor in the communications department. "What I liked best about the show was the interesting topics; they had plenty of substance."
The show's topics ran the gamut from unprotected sex to gaining financial success, and during the interview segments many guests shared their stories, including rap artist Murphy Lee, American Idol contestant Corey Clark, plus size model Mi'ka Drake and millionaire Uchendi Nwani.
Audience members said what made the show so captivating was that the guests did not just share their successes, but also the obstacles they faced along the way.
"360 degrees with Kola E is so inspiring," said Joe Nelson, a former audience member from Antioch High school.
Ellis' show fulfilled not only her dream, but others who were interested in working firsthand with television production.
A talent coordinator, director, writer, reporter to a stylist, rapper and graphic designer were all necessary for the show's production.
"It was a great experience and I am glad I could be apart of her great and successful idea," said Kaylah Robinson, a junior mass communication major from Seattle, Wash. "Being the red carpet correspondent allowed me to understand the work of a reporter on and off air."
Twelve episodes of 360 Degrees with Kola E were shot over the past two semesters, and they are scheduled to be air beginning this summer on Channel 10, and TSU campus channel 98.•
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