Duck TV Menu

What is Duck TV? Although most students on campus have heard of it, many are unsure
of what it actually is and few have seen an episode. When students passing by the EMU were
asked to explain what they thought Duck TV is, there were a variety of confused answers. “It’s
an ESPN for the University of Oregon,” Richard Harris suggested. Emily Pelissia offered a
broader approach by suggesting Duck TV is “a student production group.” Others were closer to
the purpose of Duck TV. One student explained, “It’s a way for students in the Journalism School
to get practice using broadcast equipment. . .and to learn how to use the professional recording
equipment.” Although some of the students came close to what Duck TV is, most agreed with
Sam Heffener’s statement, “I don’t know enough about it to explain it to someone.”

Producers of Duck TV were better equipped to answer the question of the purpose of this
student organization. Joey McMurry, one of the executive producers, explained, “Duck TV is
essentially a practicum for live television. If you want to act or do anything behind the scenes,
Duck TV is the place to be. Likewise, if you’re interested in broadcast journalism, Duck TV’s
news and sports segments are the best place to gain experience. All of Duck TV is run by
students, and we believe that the best way to learn is through each other.” Another executive
producer, Garret Guinn, also mentioned Duck TV providing opportunities for students to
collaborate. “There are tons of students with similar interests that can benefit from working
together,” he stated. A producer and director of this quarter’s Duck TV show Franken Affairs, Ry
Basham Mintz, added, “I like to emphasize that it’s a fantastic way to get involved on campus
and to meet other people with similar interests.”

To summarize, Duck TV is the University of Oregon’s student run television network. It
helps get students involved on campus with hands on experience with broadcast journalism in
areas both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Each week there is a new showing of
Duck TV that is even available on local television stations so the community can see what
University of Oregon students are producing. The production incorporates segments on local
news, Oregon Duck sports, and shows created by students which are similar to television series.
Students join Duck TV for various reasons with mixed experience levels and learn from
the fast moving media known as broadcast journalism. “As a person who is aspiring to join the
film industry, I joined Duck TV with the hope of gaining hands-on experience with both the
administrative and creative processes that accompany filmmaking” Mintz explained. After
joining, students quickly learn the responsibilities of being on a television network. “It was fall
term my sophomore year,” Guinn commented, “and I saw a flyer on campus promoting
auditions. I really had no idea what to expect, but figured I should check it out. I was hired on as
master editor, which was pretty daunting at first.”

Although Duck TV is only a term’s worth of commitment, many stay on the team for the
duration of their college career. “When you’re involved in something for a long time, you really
start to care for it,” McMurry explained, “Duck TV is a really cool entity because so many
different people work together for a great product. The successes in Duck TV are immensely
satisfying, but the obstacles we face are the most educational because those are the closest thing
to the real world.” Mintz agreed with McMurry, “My experience with Duck TV thus far has been
both invaluable and enjoyable. . .the successes and joys I have experienced have validated both
my efforts and creativity, but ultimately the obstacles and conflicts I’ve encountered have proven
to be the most valuable. I’m a firm believer in learning from your mistakes, ergo every snag,
every problem I’ve taken as an opportunity to develop and cultivate my interpersonal,
professional and creative skills.”

This television network run by students provides opportunities for experience in the real
world of journalism. It can be seen every Wednesday night at 8 o’clock on channel 23 or on
campus in Allen Hall.

By Erin Coates

Contributors:
Katie Foster

Coach Dana Altman, and Mike Moser speak with the media before going on the road to play the Arizona Wildcats.

Dana Altman:

Mike Moser:

Everyone has been there: late-night deliveries from the pizza boy who delivers a perfect pepperoni pizza to you and your friends, ending the night on a great note. Imagine the night from the pizza boy’s perspective; he goes door to door delivering to college students throughout Eugene, you would have to see some interesting things during a midnight delivery. This winter term tune in to watch Special Delivery, a Duck TV original produced by Gibson Toombs and directed by Cody Jameson. Special Delivery is a quirky comedy that will have silly and even slight uncomfortable scenarios played by the lead character Cedric Yu.

After talking with Gibson it was great to hear that his Duck TV success has already rocketed just in a few short months. This fall Gibson auditioned for his first term with Duck TV in hopes of eventually becoming a production assistant or a writer. However, Gibson ended up with a lead acting role in a creative show IN$TINCT. Gibson said, “I didn’t really think about acting, just wanted to get involved any way possible.” Throughout the term Gibson enjoyed acting on the show and seeing how they came together when they aired at Wednesday night screenings. With so much excitement and success that occurred during fall term, Gibson says the best part about acting was, “even though I had no experience [acting], I got thrown right into the process and really got a feel for how production works.”

Now, with the help of clever Dan Molloy, who Gibson worked with previously on the set of IN$TINCT, Gibson is more than thrilled to be writing and producing his own show. Gibson says, “I pitched the show before winter break and had a completely different vision for what it would be. It started with the idea of showing funny college students and Eugene weirdos ordering pizzas, but it has evolved into something much different.” From there the idea was sparked to make a show based off those drunken pizza orders. Soon after, when Gibson began writing episodes, the idea evolved into the idea of creating a comedy out of it. “I am having a lot of fun with the writing” says Gibson. Special Delivery captures the life of a shy and awkward pizza delivery boy that witnesses wild adventures and crazy people on his delivery calls every night. Each episode will have different witty characters and quirky plots. Tune in Wednesday night February 5th to have a laugh with friends watch the kick off episode of Special Delivery unfold!

By Ally Barclay

Inspired by events from producer Matthew Thill’s observations and experiences, Social Skills presents a brand of humor similar to that of The Office, with all of the shock value delivered by a show like Workaholics. Cohesion between both the members of its production crew and the members of its viewing audience are the key factors playing into its success.

Mitch Sawyer is a typical ladies man: very active on the social scene, with a very large friend circle, and is a local house-party legend. He’s a classic extrovert who seems to place, for the moment, the party scene over his academic responsibilities. His roommate is James Zimmerman, an introvert with extremely limited experience when it comes to females. Awkward and shy, James finds himself being taken under the garrulous Mitch’s wing to learn social skills and the ins and outs of the party scene. The pair is balanced out by Mitch’s best friend from his high school days, Lilly, who serves as the stabilizer between the two during the inevitable scuffles, since they’re on essentially opposite ends of the social spectrum. The show follows these three through their various escapades navigating the social scene. There will be scenes to give a viewer pause for their seriousness, and there will be vastly more moments of hilarity, but the underlying theme of the show is commonality: a feeling of “This has happened to me before!”

Production of Social Skills is right on track, a producer’s dream, by Thill’s accounts. The first day of shooting was Friday the 24th, and the first episode expected to be shot in about four hours. Thill also had positive things to report on his actors. “I cast them based on their natural functioning personalities…sure I had them read specific lines and such, but moreover I was watching how they carried themselves in general when they walked into the room…[I] think that they will do a wonderful job”. A key ingredient to the success of a show is cohesion within its production crew, and Social Skills has achieved such unity through group bonding sessions and a common excitement and enthusiasm about its message. While Thill handles the writing and producing, he cites his Cameraman/Director of Photography Max McDermott with managing the camerawork and visual elements.

There are, of course, some challenges that come with getting the final outcome to meet the writer’s original vision. This is where a commonality between all members of the cast and crew becomes so vitally important, and Thill feels confident in success because of the dynamic of his own team. “Whatever the final product turns out to be, I know that all of us will be behind it no matter what…and that is all I could ask for!”

By Kaylee Tornay