IPR Students at Work with the Pros on Applied Learning Projects

IPR students from every degree program work on applied learning projects as part of their coursework. Students work with industry professionals on real-world projects like short films, television pilots, and live events. Integrating applied learning projects into the IPR curriculum allows students to apply the skills they learn at school to actual projects, introduces them to the process of working for and with clients, and creates connections that will one day form students’ professional networks. This is an overview of some of the projects that students have completed in the first half of the fall term and some of the accolades they’ve received for past work.

Live Sound and Show Production students at US Bank Stadium for a charity gig. Photo by Peter Greenlund
Live Sound and Show Production students at US Bank Stadium for a charity gig. Photo by Peter Greenlund

LSSP: American Brain Foundation Benefit

Students in the Live Sound and Show Production program volunteered their time at a fundraiser for the American Brain Foundation. The students, along with instructor Peter Greenlund, worked with a professional crew from the Local 13 Stage Hand Union at the event that took place at US Bank Stadium’s 360 club. Ben Utecht was the featured performer. Utecht is a former NFL tight end who suffered multiple concussions and eventually retired due to traumatic brain injuries. He has gone on to a successful career as a singer. Susan Schneider, the wife of the late actor Robin Williams, was the keynote speaker at the event.

DVMP: Personal Space Wins Award

Personal Space, a professional/student collaborative short directed by Instructor Andrew Hunt, won an award for Best Action/Thriller Short for the month of October from the Hollywood Boulevard Film Festival. The festival hands out monthly awards year-round and culminates with an annual event. The goal of THBFF is to “encourage emerging movie makers for new film making by appreciating their work.” Earlier this year, Personal Space won eight awards, including Best Picture at the 2016 Z-Fest Film Festival. It is currently entered into some national competitions and festivals. As a part of their coursework, Digital Video and Media Production students have now collaborated with pros on three shorts, the fourth is scheduled to shoot winter term.

SDVM: Students Work on Sound for Pilot

Sound Design for Visual Media students in the Audio for Visual Media II class have been busy with audio post-production for a television show pilot called The Snooz Room. The show is a mockumentary style sitcom and stars young actors from the Twin Cities area. The kids work with local acting coach Michelle Hutchinson (Fargo, My Best Friend’s Wedding) in an after-school acting program. Each year they work with a crew of professionals to create a product that showcases the skills they’ve learned in class. SDVM/ DVMP grad Ben Thorson worked as a crew member on this year’s project, which was shot at the IPR Edina Studios. IPR’s AV259 class produced original theme music, cleaned and edited the dialog and production sound, added SFX and foley elements, and added background ambience sounds. The pilot premiered on November 1, at the Parkway Theater.

Digital Video student Christian Willner on camera at the 2016 Twin Cities Film Fest. Photo by DVMP student Justin Campbell
Digital Video student Christian Willner behind the camera at the 2016 Twin Cities Film Fest. Photo by DVMP student Justin Campbell

DVMP: Twin Cities Film Fest

TCFF has come to a close for another year, and IPR was active in several ways. IPR teams with the festival to give students opportunities to work alongside professionals as well as get important face time with visiting and local filmmakers. Students from the DVMP program worked as crew with the teams that shot red carpet interviews and other festival events. First term DVMP student Justin Campbell worked with the post-production department to edit several promo clips. Also, this year, a pair of visiting directors from the fest came to us, screening portions of their work and doing a Q&A at IPR’s Edina Studios. Lastly, Instructor Andrew Hunt’s first feature film as a director had its US debut at the festival. The screening of Miles Between Us was a sellout.

APE: Students in the Studio with Miss Myra and the Moonshiners.

Kevin Bowe and his students are always hosting someone notorious in Mastermix B as a part of Production Portfolio class. This past week, it was local roots crooner Miss Myra and her band the Moonshiners. The Moonshiners are not strangers to working with IPR students but this time around was special. Myra and bandmates were given the script and some early selects from the latest IPR short film project and Kevin and his students spent the afternoon producing tracks that would serve as the soundtrack to the finished short. IPR media producer Matt Maas was there to document the session, so watch for the short documentary that will feature this collaboration between the Audio Production and Engineering program and the DVMP program. And if you’d like to check out Miss Myra and the Moonshiners, they have an upcoming date at the Dakota on Monday, Nov. 14.