UA TCF Class Project Selected to Screen at New York Television Festival

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A class project produced by a group of University of Alabama telecommunication and film students has been picked to screen at the New York Television Festival’s Independent Pilot Competition.

“It’s truly an honor to have a student production chosen as an official selection in this festival,” said Adam Schwartz, assistant professor of telecommunication and film. “This festival is the premiere independent television festival, giving official selections access to studio and network executives, pitch sessions, etc.”

Of 48 total selections for the Independent Pilot Competition, only three were student submissions. “To see UA right up there with other totally independent ‘professional’ projects is incredibly rewarding,” Schwartz said.

The TCF 451 Advanced Television Production class, under Schwartz’s guidance, produced a 22-minute comedy television pilot called “Re-Committed.” With the exception of Schwartz, the entire production crew and most of the cast was composed of UA students.

The pilot centers around the fictional Jamal Anderson, who is sent back to high school by his psychiatrist after being treated for hallucination-like daydreams and constant visions of his imaginary friend Bo. Jamal encounters a plethora of unique high school characters and quickly learns that recommitting himself to high school will not be easy.

The cast of the pilot is as follows:

William Mason, a TCF major from Birmingham, as Jamal Anderson
Andrew P. Carey, a TCF major from Mobile, as Bo
Blake Minor, a TCF major from Cottondale,as Clifton
Clifton Lewis, a TCF major from Tuscaloosa, as Talon Knyghtehauck
Lauren Adams, an English major from Roswell, Ga., as Dixie
Stephen Brunson, an acting MFA student from Canyon, Texas, as Mr. Bentley
Sara-Margaret Cates, an education major from Northport, as the principal
Laura Dotson, a human environmental sciences major from Tuscaloosa, as Kathrine Anderson
Rick Dowling, a 1985 TCF graduate and instructional developer for the UA Faculty Resource Center, as Dr. Francis Perkins

The crew of the pilot (all members of Schwartz’s Fall 2010 TCF 451 class):

Producers: Clayton Collins, a TCF major from Anniston; Kate Longfield, a TCF major from Fairhope; and Heath Williamson, a TCF major from Mobile
Writers: Andrew P. Carey, a TCF major from Mobile, and Heath Williamson, a TCF major from Mobile
Director: Marcus Tortorici, a TCF major from Indian Springs
1st Assistant Director: Lindy Lovvorn, a TCF major from Carrollton, Ga.
Director of Photography: Micah Russell, a computer science major from Huntsville
Production Designer: Kristen Freeland, a TCF major from Gulf Shores
Editor: Hamilton Henson, a TCF major from Toney
Gaffer: Matt Phillips, a TCF major from Jemison
Key Grip: Andrew P. Carey, a TCF major from Mobile
Sound Mixer/Designer: Chris “Chop” Dunham, a TCF major from Birmingham
Camera Operator: Alex Armistead, a TCF major from Tuscaloosa
Executive Producer: Adam Schwartz, assistant professor of media production, from Irondale

The pilot also was selected to screen at the 2011 International Television Festival in Los Angeles and Birmingham’s 13th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival, Aug. 26-28.