Category: Blog

Link’d Racks Up Another Force Award

Posted on by admin

Link’d took its third Force Award this week and is looking in prime position to make the second ever season-long sweep in Duck TV history.

The show hit a dramatic high this week in a gut-wrenching episode that demonstrated the potentially ominous effects of Than’s invention. Vina, facing enormous pressure from her anti-technology girlfriend Naara to do something about her brother, finds herself faced with the eerie effect spurred by the Link’d pill. She drags an apparently-unconscious Ajax home only to find Naara has kidnapped Than—and her intentions seem anything but benign.

Link’d has been a runaway success from the start. Co-producer Anna Connelly said of the show’s success: “I don’t want to say that we anticipated it, but when we decided to do the show, we all agreed that we were going to give it our all. We believed in our message and knew we had the resources to bring something special…”

The dynamic of the crew is no small contributing factor to Link’d’s ability to connect with its audience every week. The members are close and cooperation results from a dedication to a quality production. “We are able to be brutally honest when need be and know that, in the end, we all still love each other. I think that attitude towards our product is why we have been so successful,” Connelly disclosed.

The last episode ran into some unexpected roadblocks; production of this episode went much smoother. While the “Episode from Hell,” as the crew affectionately calls it, was heavy with information about the characters and the story, the most recent episode focused more on the visual aspect of the show, by including less dialogue and more silent shots where imagery offers the greatest amount of content. The effect was no less impactful; the soaring soundtrack and striking shots were more than enough to leave a silent room at the screening. Filming was apparently a much quicker process as well: “We filmed in three days and got a weekend off!” Connelly reported.

Link’d will compete for its fourth Force Award during Week 10.

By Kaylee Tornay

Screenwriter of Link’d Wins Best Actress Week 8

Posted on by admin

Sophomore Arianna Trames, the screenwriter for Link’d, won best actress for her performance in the latest episode of Link’d. Trames is from Portland, Oregon and majoring in Cinema Studies. She first became involved with Duck TV fall term. “I always knew I wanted to write for Duck TV,” Trames explained, “I just got my toes wet working as a PA for IN$TINCT.”

When she first wrote the script for Link’d, Trames had not planned on acting. “When our main actor who would play Vina’s boyfriend couldn’t commit I thought it was a perfect time to readjust the gender roles in the story that were changed when we made Than a boy,” Trames noted. Originally, Link’d was going to have a female dominant cast and crew. “Although we love Rob Klein and Conor Stott and our male editor and director, I adore the energy it [having a female dominant cast and crew] brings,” Trames expressed.

There are some drawbacks and advantages that come with the responsibility of being the writer, producer, and an actress for the show. Trames stated, “Being in front of the camera, I notice that I lose the attention span to lead my crew and act.” Luckily, her production team is always willing to help out and she always has someone to watch her back. As an actress, Trames has achieved a new insight into her show; “It has been easier to write dialogue because I understand the atmosphere and interactions that occur between the actors,” she explained.

Being a part of Link’d has been a positive experience for Trames. She expressed, “My favorite part of producing this show is seeing it come to fruition. As the writer, the story has been in my head for more than a year now and it is exciting, if not relieving, to see it physically turn into the show it is.” She is now open to the idea of acting in her future, but her main focus is on screenwriting and directing. “I do have much higher aspirations as a screenwriter and director than an actress. For me, if I can get passionate enough about a story I am working on than I will throw myself at it in all ways,” Trames explained.

By Erin Coates

Spring Show Pitches

Posted on by admin

With the end of the term fast approaching, the time for Show Pitches has rolled around once again.

Duck TV is looking for motivated students who have ideas for possible creative shows. On Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 10, the Executive Producers of Duck TV will hold open interviews with potential writers and producers. With every show pitch, they are looking for clear, coherent story ideas, an idea of the show structure, and a list of resources needed to make the show happen (actors, equipment, crew members, etc.). A rough draft of at least one episode is preferred, but not necessary.

Typically, creative shows are made up of four 5-7 minute episodes. In the past, students have produced comedies, sitcoms, dramas, music shows, and the list goes on. Shows produced on Duck TV air at weekly Duck TV screenings, as well as every Wednesday on the local public access network, Channel 23.

Whether it is your dream to produce your own television show or you simply think you have a great idea for one, come to Duck TV Spring Show Pitches Tuesday, March 11th and Wednesday, March 12th from 5-7PM in Allen Hall 332.

Fundraisers and Sponsorships

Posted on by admin

This year Duck TV’s Public Relations team has been striving to great efforts to plan fundraiser nights and acquire sponsorships, in hopes to better fund Duck TV’s expenses. Many may not know that Duck TV is non-profit and solely runs off the support and funds from student help and outside sources. This last year the public relations team has paired with businesses such as Qdoba and Yogurt Extreme; both businesses have hosted outstanding fundraiser nights to help support the funding for the overall Duck TV production.

Lauren Schwartz, who is a one of the public relations directors, comments on how important and exciting it is to have outstanding fundraising and sponsorship help. “It is all about relationship building, the more businesses we create relationships with, the more respect Duck TV will attain, in turn making our organization grow professionally,” says Schwartz. Overall, many of the projects that Schwartz helped planned came to reality this fall term when the Public Relations put on their first fundraiser event at Qdoba. “We have successfully reached out to many local businesses and gained their support through money and food donations,” added Schwartz. Lindsey Simmons who works closely with Schwartz as a public relations director comments, “our fundraisers raise awareness around campus and open up doors for program expansion, so our main goal is to continue to move with that brand and build the program.” Joey McMurry the executive producer of sports expands on where exactly we need funding and how it would help. “We really want to upgrade our studio for news/sports,” We want to make it a studio that when a potential employer sees it on a student’s demo real they go “damn, that looks like a professional studio. Did this person intern somewhere?”

Additionally, many expenses for the production of creative shows comes out the students producing and acting in the show; in the future Duck TV would love to provide the funding’s for those students to be able to buy resources and props, without having to take it out of their personal wallet.

Ultimately, the staff of public relations feels that the more sponsorships there are the more our name will get out and more people will join, support, or sponsor.
“The sky’s the limit,” says McMurry. “With more sponsors, we have more resources. The more resources, the better the product. The better the product, the better the people are that leave Duck TV. The better the people are that leave Duck TV, the more respect and recognition. The more respect and recognition, the more sponsors. It’s a giant circle that just means a better Duck TV.”

By Ally Barclay

Social Skills Leads take Best Actor and Best Actress Awards

Posted on by admin

Week seven’s best actress is Paris Bell, for her performance on Social Skills.

A native of Kailua, Hawai’i, Paris is a sophomore who has spent both years at the University of Oregon.  She’s had acting experience scattered throughout her pre-college years, from childhood commercials to plays in middle school and high school.  She says she always wanted to do more acting, but her commitment to sports made it difficult to find the time.

“Not being involved in sports here other than intramurals kinda forced me to get myself out there and try to start acting again,” Paris says.  “So far so good!”

Actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Elizabeth Banks inspire Paris in her acting.  “Jennifer Lawrence definitely inspires me when it comes to acting because she just kind of popped up out of nowhere and became a huge star, and that’s exactly what I would love to do,” Paris says.  “It’s usually hard to become famous when you aren’t starting out as a five year old or have famous parents like most celebrities today.  And I also want to be like Elizabeth Banks because she’s hilarious and I’ve been told I look like her, so I’m striving to be her,” she laughs.

This is Paris’s first term with Duck TV.  “I actually really want to be an anchor for Duck TV but I don’t have too much experience, so when I got the email for winter term, I thought I’d audition to be an actress to get my foot in the door and see how it all works first,” she says.

Paris says she’s impressed with the effort that goes into each production, and she likes that everyone seems to be in the same boat, since it’s the first time on Duck TV for many people.  “It’s nice to know that some people are on the same level as you,” she says.

“My favorite part about Duck TV is definitely meeting new people.  My crew clicked right off the bat so it’s been a lot of fun working with them and bonding with each other,” Paris says.  “The screenings are also great because everyone comes together to appreciate all the hard work we’ve put into each segment!”

 

 

Peter Frengs of Social Skills was this week’s Best Actor award winner.  The University of Oregon Senior, originally from Palos Verdes, CA, says he hadn’t had any acting experience prior to attending the UO, and yet he found himself starring in a sitcom in his first term with Duck TV.

Going in to Duck TV, Peter wanted to produce news for the news department and get production experience as a PA for one of the creative shows.  He ended up being asked to work on both, and though he hadn’t planned on acting, he checked the box saying he’d be willing to act and landed an audition.

“During the interview I read probably two lines and they told me that they would be in contact,” he says.  “Unexpectedly, I ended up being cast as the starring role in the sitcom Social Skills.”

Peter finds his greatest inspiration in the music of Punk, Ska, and Reggae.  “I just like stuff that’s really high energy and aggressive; music that commands you to get off your ass and move your feet,” he says.  “People always say to me that music is life; I try to live a fun one.”

Although he had heard of Duck TV in passing, Peter had never seen a full episode in his four years on campus.  This term, he heard about the program by word of mouth, and decided to try it.  He never anticipated seeing himself on screen, and was shocked to learn he had landed a starring role.  His shock only grew when he was presented with the Best Actor award for the second episode of Social Skills.

Peter believes his acting experience with Duck TV will help to improve his skills in other areas of production.

“I have given direction to actors but have never really known what that director/actor relationship felt like from the perspective of the on-screen talent,” he says. “Now that I’m working as an actor and getting feedback and direction from my producers I’m learning how to better understand that relationship. Even if I don’t ever act again, I find this experience integral for my possible future in production.”

 

 

By Katie Foster