MDC-TV Honored With Communicator And Telly Awards
Miami Dade College’s North Campus-based television station, MDC-TV, has added two Communicator Awards and three Telly Awards to their trophy case.
The awards, which recognize excellence and innovation in multimedia communication, were announced on May 7 and May 21, respectively.
MDC-TV received the following honors:
- A Gold Communicator Award for Nicolas Cage Actor’s Spotlight and a Silver Communicator Award for Video Game Concert ’23.
- Two Silver Tellys for Video Game Concert ‘23 and Black History Month ‘24 and a Bronze Telly for Video Game Concert ‘23.
“[These awards] serve as a culmination and validation of the meticulous efforts poured into each production,” said MDC-TV Director Ariel Rubalcava. “Despite [that] our projects often operate with limited budgets and fewer professionals, they stand out as beacons of passion and dedication.”
Nicolas Cage Actor’s Spotlight
Nicolas Cage Actor’s Spotlight is an approximately 30-minute interview that dives into the life of actor, producer and director Nicolas Cage, known for his roles in The Rock (1996), Con Air (1997), National Treasure (2004) Leaving Las Vegas (1995), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
The interview is moderated by North Campus film professor Adrian Garca.
“I hope that [this project] gives [students] faith that if they stick with this, that could be them too,” Garcia said. “And hopefully, in a few year’s time, they’re going to be a leader in one of those projects.”
Video Game Concert ‘23
Video Game Concert ‘23 features the MDC Symphony Orchestra performing orchestral adaptations of anime and video game soundtracks under the direction of North Campus music professor Alberto Bade.
The 20-minute performance, which featured approximately 100 students and volunteers, showcases melodies from Skyrim, Super Mario, Attack on Titan, Cowboy Bebop and Final Fantasy.
“Anytime you get recognized for hard work it satisfies you, but it’s also fueling to want to do more,” Bade said. “It’s validation that the work you’re doing is not only important, but being noticed and making a difference through the power of music”
The project, which has been performed six times since its debut in 2015, also earned the team a Suncoast Regional Emmy in December. Another concert will be held during Finn-Con, North Campus’ annual anime and video game convention, on June 15.
Black History Month ‘24
Black History Month ‘24 is a one-minute video written and produced by MDC-TV producer Tony Leal that honors Black pioneers in the arts.
It highlights influential figures such as Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to earn a Pulitzer Prize, Harry Belafonte, the first African American to win an Emmy Award, and Aretha Franklin, the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“You want to make sure people learn history because if you don’t learn history, you’re gonna repeat the same mistakes,” Leal said. “At the time when [these] feats were done, there was a lot of commotion in the country; Blacks had no rights. For them to do all this at a time when it was really hard, it should make you feel proud and learn from their experience.”
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