Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.—A student-produced television show at Mississippi State University is giving communication majors valuable experience while showcasing local musicians on a statewide platform.
Through the university’s cable channel, MSTV, over 30 original episodes of “Music Makers Presents” have aired and are available in high definition on MaxxSouth Broadband and C Spire Fiber TV. The show is a joint collaboration between Music Maker Productions, the University Television Center and WMSV-91.1 FM. New episodes air on Thursdays at 7 p.m. on MSTV and every Saturday at 9 p.m. on WMSV. Music Maker Productions is a student-run organization that aims to bring quality entertainment to MSU and Starkville.
“‘Music Makers Presents’ is an opportunity for students at Music Maker Productions, along with Department of Communication students, to get practical experience booking, producing, editing and airing local original music acts,” UTC Director David Garraway said. “It’s great for the university and the television center.”
Each show is filmed in the UTC studios at the Wise Center, with musical acts performing select songs for the television audience. WMSV General Manager Anthony Craven interviews the artists to gain insight into their backgrounds and what motivates them as musicians.
Alex Coats, a senior communication major from College Station, Texas, is the booking chair for “Music Makers Presents.” Coats has been involved with Music Maker Productions for four years and said he jumped at the chance to be involved with the television show when it began last year. In his role, Coats serves as a liaison between the artists, Music Maker Productions and television center personnel.
“This is the first time I’ve really had the experience of talking one-on-one with the artists,” Coats said. “You’re wearing a lot of hats, communicating between groups. It’s taught me a lot about the process, the university and Mississippi music in general. There’s a lot of music in Mississippi that really needs to be heard.”
Students in advanced TV production classes at MSU have the opportunity to assist the production, which Garraway said helps familiarize them with the studio and broadcasting. The students learn new roles from television center staff and are then placed into those roles for the show.
Nicholas Erebia is the show’s producer and director. A junior communication major from Acworth, Georgia, Erebia became involved through Garraway’s advanced TV production class and later earned a UTC student worker position. Erebia said the experience has prepared him for producing a live news show in the capstone TV practicum course.
“I direct the cameras to get shots I want to be recorded, and I make sure we’re on time,” Erebia said. “I’m also in charge of editing the content and making sure it reaches the network at the right time.”
For more on the University Television Center, visit www.utc.msstate.edu.
More information on Music Maker Productions can be found at www.msuconcerts.com.
More on WMSV can be found at www.wmsv.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.