The Broadcast Education Association (BEA) is one of the foremost organizations today highlighting top university talent in the fields of radio, film, telecommunications and electronic arts. Its yearly Festival of Media Arts brings the best students in those fields to congratulate them with honors at a ceremony in Las Vegas. It was there that four California State University, Northridge students—Jonathan Park (Cinema and Television Arts), Blake Gaytan (Film Production), Kristina Ivanova (TV Production) and Cutler Gray (Film Production)—took home the 2013 Best in Festival award in the video competition. Along with a plaque commemorating the award, the group captured a $1,000 prize.

The video, posted below, was created for CSUN’s Career Center and focuses on the career of CSUN alumnus Mark Langill, currently the team historian for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The CSUN production team followed Langill around historic Dodger Stadium, an endeavor Park said was a “once in a lifetime experience.”

“Mark was more than willing to have us and show us around,” Park said. “He gave us a tour of the stadium, access to the press box and access to the field. He also showed us his office space, but he was keen to point out that the whole stadium is his office since it is alive and rich with history.”

That history is evident in the video, as the team caught Langill performing his day-to-day activities and running into Dodgers luminaries like Tommy Lasorda. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at Langill’s life and how the five-time author of books on Dodgers lore uses the experience gained at CSUN as a journalism student to chronicle the history of one of the preeminent sports teams in all of America.

As a group, the four students produce 13 videos a semester aimed at CSUN students. Under the guidance of the Career Center’s Academic Multimedia Content Developer Richard Chambers and Assistant Director Jan Potzmann (as well as CTVA faculty member Mary Schaffer, who encouraged them to submit the video), the group notes that they were allowed to try things that some other supervisors might not have allowed.

“We really have some top-tier programs here, and they aren’t limited to the CTVA program,” Gray said. “From engineering to business to geography, CSUN can truly give its students a world-class education. Competing in these kinds of competitions is only valuable if we can actually share those experiences with our community and neighbors.”

Alumni, Awards, CTVA, Featured, Mike Curb College of Arts Media and Communication