The creative and technical skills and talents of television production students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have gone global.

 

In a first for an Australian university, the students in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at CSU at Wagga Wagga are producing short videos for release through the USA-based company, Howcast.

 

Howcast showcases studio-quality short videos on how to do an activity from how to wrap a Christmas present, to how to make a piñata and how to be a good co-worker. These videos are broadcast through the Howcast site. The content is distributed across a network of web, mobile, and cable partners, including destinations such as YouTube, MySpace, Hulu, AOL, Yahoo!, Comcast, Apple, TiVo and Verizon.

 

The move follows a meeting in New York late in 2008 between television production lecturer at CSU Mr Bruce Gater and the Vice-President of Production at Howcast, Ms Darlene Liebman.

 

“This valuable opportunity for experience and exposure was previously only available to university students in the USA, as the videos on Howcast were produced by American universities teaching media studies.” 

 

Under the new arrangement with CSU, Howcast supplies voiceovers and graphics and the CSU students shoot the videos with CSU actors before editing the footage.

 

The CSU students have produced eight how-to videos that are being broadcast around the world. Some of these include ‘How To Wash A Leafy Green’, ‘How To Make A Pimms Cup’ and ‘How To Communicate Strengths In A Job Interview’.

 

“I'd like to say how impressed we are overall with the acting and directing in all the spots from the CSU students,” said Ms Heather Menicucci, Managing Producer of Howcast’s Emerging Film Makers Program. “I am overwhelmed by the professionalism of the work and the ability of the students to meet deadlines and the quality of their productions.”

 

“Charles Sturt University is proud to be the first Australian university to be in partnership with Howcast,” said Mr Gater.

 

“This is an excellent way for the students to experience production house videos at a global level. The work has inspired a new level of confidence in the students in being able to work in a creative new learning environment. The other advantage is Howcast critiques the students' work with minor alterations that are used for re-editing and educational purposes.”

 

“Working on my video, ‘How To Make A Pimms Cup’ really extended my skills as it involved me dealing with a ‘real-life’ client, including updating them, meeting their requirements and deadlines,” said final year television production student Ms Alexandra Brown from Wodonga.

 

The production of the how-to videos is now incorporated into the assessment for final year Bachelor of Arts (Television Production)students at CSU.

  

To view the eight how-to videos produced by CSU students for Howcast go here.