This week’s Best Actress is Kelley Young, playing Queen Delilah from “Franken Affairs”. A junior from Washougal, WA, Young is a theater arts major. I sat down with her following her win, and discovered this young lady is as friendly and charming as Delilah is deceptive and cunning.

Q: Why did you want to get involved with a Duck TV production?
A: Well my ultimate goal is to be involved in film acting. My major is theater, though. It’s a lot of fun to work with students; we’re all just learning as we go. It’s honestly just so much fun.

Q: Tell me about your character. Do you relate to her at all?
A: She’s a very proud woman. Louis described her as “elegant, queenly, and slutty”. She definitely uses her sex as her power and she isn’t afraid to go after what she wants. I share that same kind of passion, I guess, but I’m not manipulative like her. I’m used to playing ingénue characters, like Disney princesses, usually. It’s been fun to play the opposite: and evil character. After I delivered that first monologue, I felt terrible, like “What did I just say?” But there’s more to her than meets the eye. She’s smart, too, and ambitious.

Q: What has your previous acting experience included?
A: I was involved in community theater in high school. I got my first professional job doing improve on a dinner train in Hood River. I actually missed my junior prom because of it. When I came to college, I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue theater. But I came and got on student staff, and I fell back in love with it. I was in “The Importance of Being Earnest” last year, and then I acted in “Spring Awakening” with University Theater.

By Kaylee Tornay

Conor Stott, a fifth year senior from Portland Oregon, has found himself taking a victory lap with great acting success. Last week was the kickoff week for Duck TV’s screening of student-produced news, sports, and creative shows. Conor, who plays a main character of the creative show Link’d, started off this term with a bang, winning the Best Actor award.

After having a successful first term with Duck TV this last fall term, Conor has earned not one but four Best Actor awards including the one he has just been given this last Wednesday. The charismatic and accomplished actor Conor always wanted to be involved in film but, until this year, never discovered an outlet in college. Last spring while studying abroad, a fellow classmate told him about Duck TV and about fall auditions. Conor instantly had a moment where he thought, “where has this been all my life.”

Last term Conor auditioned for his first role with DuckTV and was able to score a lead on the show IN$TINCT. Conor feels that in such a short time of acting on camera he has really been able to discover how to bring a characters role to life; from what the audience has experienced, he has been extremely exceptional at it.

This winter term, Conor is playing a lead character of Link’d named Than. Than, who is described by Conor as an introverted college student that has a knack for technology and finds himself constantly being consumed in it, consequently creates a sense of social withdrawal throughout the show. Conor’s outstanding performance is credited by his ability to effectively portray a sense of physically and emotional connection of his character to the audience. When asked about his thoughts about the show, Conor, who is anxious and excited says, “I actually don’t know the outcome of the story yet, but I am thrilled to see how Ari and Anna play this out.”

Congratulations to Conor Stott for his achievement of the Best Actor Award for Week 5. Stay tuned to see how Link’d unfolds as well as watching Conor Stott act on the big screen; we way even see another Best Actor award given to him!

By Ally Barclay

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