UCLA’s Next

  On the set of "UCLA: Next" are undergrad co-hosts
Cheryl Umana and Scott
Mechlowicz, with Merritt McCoy, an alumna
of the UCLA Extension program.

By Christopher K. Saroki
Daily Bruin Contributor

“Good Morning America.” “The Today
show.” “Regis and Kelly.” What’s
“Next?”

In a jungle of cameras and wires, a group of students work
together to make “UCLA: Next,” a news-magazine style
view of UCLA. The half-hour program airs on LA36 and UCTV with
potential viewership in the millions.

“Each week we take a look at something interesting or
unique about the campus and it’s a very comedic,
light-hearted look,” said Amy Duzinski, a first-year graduate
student in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

However, “Next” is not just for film students
““ it’s open to all.

“Anyone can do it,” said Thelma Vickroy, the
visiting professor overseeing the production. “It
doesn’t matter what discipline they come from if
they’re enthusiastic. These students are really smart and
they can tell a story.”

Vickroy has taught at almost every university in Los Angeles,
with the exception of USC, and has helped many of her students land
jobs in the industry.

“In television there’s a lot of opportunities and
jobs for students that really want to work,” Vickroy
said.

“Next,” she believes, will give students the skills
and experience needed to take advantage of these opportunities. But
first students need to know the opportunities exist.

“I think this is a secret that not enough people know
about. This is a gem of a class that so many schools don’t
offer,” said Duzinski. “People here at our film school
don’t really understand this or know this, but television is
a very lucrative and self-sustaining business.”

  Photos by Todd Cheney/UCLA Photo "UCLA: Next" is the new
student-produced TV show in FILM TV 187C. Inside a TV studio
control room is Film/TV/Digital Media graduate student Amy
Duzinski, segment producer.

UCLA and many other schools focus on film, sometimes overlooking
the television industry. Recognizing the importance of television,
Robert Rosen, dean of the School of Theater, Film and Television,
helped launch this program at UCLA.

“Dean Rosen has been incredibly kind to fund this project
and give us all the support we possibly could ever ask for to
actually get it off the ground,” said Duzinski.

While struggling to get the show started and make it better,
students are also given the opportunity to improve their skills.
“Next” allows many students to gain experience both in
front of the camera and behind the scenes.

“I learned a lot about myself and things that I need to
work on,” said Valerie Morrell, co-anchor of shows 10 and
11.

Morrell, a fourth-year theater student, says working with
“Next” has improved her acting skills. She has hosted
alongside Alex Weed, also a fourth-year theater student.

The program, in its first year, includes individuals with
varying degrees of experience with production.

“For me, for instance, I came with a lot of experience,
working in a studio, knowing video like the back of my hand,”
Duzinski said. “Then there’s people on the other (side
of the) spectrum who have never even picked up a video camera
before in their life. That is totally welcome, and this is the best
environment to get your skills up to par, or get your skills even
at all.”

“Next” teaches students through hands-on
instruction. Students not only talk about television, they work
together to make a show.

“It’s an incredibly steep learning curve and all of
us are getting thrown in the water at the same time and trying to
figure out how to swim,” Duzinski said. “It gives us
real life learning experiences in a very safe environment where
we’re allowed to fail, we’re allowed to figure out how
to do it better, how to basically flop our way through everything
until we get it right.”

Duzinski, a production student, has had the chance to play
various roles in the construction of the programs. She directed
four of the nine completed shows.

However, this class is open to all, and some students may not be
as experienced, and may require more time, guidance and
patience.

“Knowing that it was a lot to do ““ even with that
knowledge ““ I took it on because it was a great opportunity.
It’s wonderful for the students of UCLA to be able to get a
chance to make stories about their lives, and it to go out to such
a huge potential viewing audience,” said Vickroy. “That
is just an amazing opportunity for them.”

Although Vickroy plays a central role, she emphasizes the fact
that the students run the show.

“I think the strength of the show is that it’s made
by students, created by students,” Vickroy said.
“It’s their show. It’s not my show.”

Guided by a knowledgeable professor, students are not only given
the chance to learn a lot from someone that has been in the
industry, but with this experience behind them, they are allowed to
create something that they can call their own.

“(The students) each get to produce a piece on UCLA, which
is a really incredible opportunity because you leave the school or
the program with some actual real life footage that you’ve
produced, written, directed, edited,” Duzinski said.

“We have an amazing teacher who is willing to work with us
in every capacity,” Duzinski added.

“UCLA: Next” is a unique class for anyone to gain
television production experience through a hands on, immersion
experience.

“It’s a really great opportunity,” said Mark
Milinich, a third-year graduate student.

CLASS: FILM TV 187C is 6 units and takes place
Tuesday and Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. The show airs on
LA36 Monday at 9 p.m. and Thursday at 10 p.m. It also airs on UCTV
Thursday 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. It can also be found on the Beverly
Hills network, channel 35 on Thursdays at 10 p.m. It can be viewed
anytime at www.uctv.tv