Taylor Receives Three Nominations from Regional Emmy Organization

Three documentaries by Taylor University student filmmakers have been nominated for student production awards by the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences, Lower Great Lakes Chapter.

Nominated in the Student, Long Form category was the Taylor film The Glassmakers: Exploring an Indiana Tradition, produced by Elyse Horb, Hanson Reed and A.J. Ablog. The documentary explores Indiana’s rich heritage of making both functional and art glass. The Glassmakers was nominated for this category along with two projects from Ball State University.

Students Austin Yoder, David Stallard and Daniel Ford were nominated for their documentary The Blue Flash: A Midwest Coaster Story about a man who built two rollercoasters in his backyard.  Their film was nominated in the Student, Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs category. Yoder, who was producer for the program said, “Having the opportunity tell John and Sharon Ivers’ story was such a privilege. This is a celebration of them and of American ingenuity. We are so blessed to be in a program that encourages us to go out and tell powerful stories.”

Nominated in the Arts and Entertainment category was a second Taylor documentary, When the Game Changes: A Playbook for Perseverance. Students Abbie Brewer, Ashley Young and Jamie Bell told the inspiring story of an athlete who came back to the football field after a tragic factory accident. Brewer said, “It has been amazing to share Brad Hurtig’s story with many people, and we are so grateful it has been recognized by the Emmy organization."

The Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs category had only two nominations that were both Taylor films, so Taylor is guaranteed to win at least one student award at the Emmy ceremony in June. Productions are judged by a series of qualified experts and tallied on a point system. The student winners will be announced at a black tie event in Sandusky, Ohio, on June 18.

All three documentaries were created in the Documentary Filmmaking class taught by Kathy Bruner, Department Co-Chair and Assistant Professor of Film & Media Production, in Fall 2015 as part of the Film and Media Production major. “We are so incredibly excited to have received three nominations from such a noteworthy organization," Bruner said. "It’s a testimony to the quality of work our students produce.” Bruner executive produced the projects and Media Engineer Joshua Taylor was post-production supervisor.

These nominations are three of the 26 recognitions received in 2015-2016 by Taylor student filmmakers.