AC Student Films to Air on PBS!

Posted on Thursday, December 10th, 2020

Looking for something to watch this weekend while finishing (or like some of us, starting) your holiday wrapping? Algonquin Film Presents, a collection of documentaries created and produced by Algonquin Film and Media Production students, is slated to air on local PBS station WPBS on December 12 at 10pm.

The broadcast is a huge boost for the College’s new program, which launched in 2019 and gives students hands-on experience in the film and screen-based media production industry. For over 60 years, WPBS has served Eastern Ontario and Northern New York viewers with a variety of news and programming. More than half of WPBS’ members are Canadian, as are many of the station’s corporate sponsors and partners.

Mark Prasuhn, president and general manager of the PBS station in Watertown, ME, said he was excited to learn about the new program at Algonquin, and discussed the idea of showcasing student work with Film and Media professor Jeremy Atherton. “I offered to showcase student films and package them into one-hour special program and make that available as a special.” said Prasuhn. “I see great potential and am excited about the possibility to work with the College and everyone in the program to collaborate and get [student films] on the air.”

The WPBS showcase will give the students’ work important exposure, allow them to display their creativity and skills, and lays the groundwork for future partnerships between WPBS and the Film and Media Production program.

“I’d met with Mark pre-COVID and there was a fit with the content PBS delivers and the content we are creating,” said Atherton. “It’s going to be exciting for the students. My hope is to get eight seven-minute documentaries on the air.”

“Everyone is excited and into it,” said first year student Victoria Doherty. “I think we are nervous and excited as well. A lot of us have never had anything air on TV but there is nervous energy and there is excitement to see the finished product on TV.”

While students won’t be able to get together in person to watch the program in December, Doherty expects they will gather virtually to mark the occasion. “It would be great if we can all come together and watch our docs in the same room, but that can’t happen, so hopefully we will be on a group Zoom call, celebrating we got this project done, and we’ll be watching it live having a mini Zoom party.”

This could be the first party of many. Prasuhn hopes for future collaboration with the College. “The pandemic has thrown things for a bit of a loop with many collaborations. We want to have a continuing relationship. We’ve talked about bringing students to the station and we would be delighted to do more showcases of students’ work. I certainly hope we will be doing more before too long.”

Algonquin Film Presents airs on WPBS on Saturday, December 12. Check listings for specific times.


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