UTV Wins Gold at CASE Five University Television has received a Gold Award for Excellence in Special Events, Invitations and Collateral Materials for their production of Gala 07: License to Thrill from CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education). The spoof video was produced to introduce the Performing Arts Society Gala 2007 guests to an evening of terrific entertainment and an incredible silent auction.
UTV Staff
Credits at UTV go to Nat Heindenreich and Todd Draeger for writing and directing; Michael Thompson and Mark Dial for producing, filming and editing; with assistance from the UTV production crew of Jason Eveland and Phil Weiss. UTV was also on hand the night of the Gala to make the transition for the audience from the video to the live introduction Gala 007: License to Thrill featured a cast of WIU staff and community members. Perhaps most important is the fact that it featured Gene Kozlowski as Q. It was Gene's last performance as he passed away November 28, 2008.
Check out this incredible video spoof on YouTube. Cast:
- Mick Cumbie, COFAC Director of Development, as James Bond
- Paul Kreider, College Dean as "M"
- Louise Reynolds, College secretary as Moneypenny
- Gene Kozlowski, retired theater department chair as "Q"
- Gordy Taylor, retired alumni director as Gordfinger ...
- Laura Swanson Leezeer, PAS Board member and local banker as Plenty O'Cash
- Bart Shanklin, Director of the School of Music, as Shanklin
- Tristan Tapscott, Irving Kwong, Doug Mencke, Mike Taylor, Bruce McCormack, John Meixner, and Ken and Lorraine Epperson, as the others and villians
The list of 2008 winners is now posted. CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in London and Singapore, is the professional organization for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications, fundraising, marketing and other areas. CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession, and foster public support of education. CASE also offers a variety of advancement products and services, provides standards and an ethical framework for the profession, and works with other organizations to respond to public issues of concern while promoting the importance of education worldwide.
What set this event apart as unique was the innovative use of a video presentation shown immediately after guests were seated for dinner. The video reflected the theme of the event (007, James Bond), incorporated a fundraising story line familiar to our guests (new Performing Arts Center), featured recognizable "actors" from the university and community, and was an extraordinarily well-produced feature (bias intended).
The mission of the Bond character was to retrieve the plans for the new Performing Arts Center, deliver them to the dean of the college, and then host the gala event. As the video concludes, the Bond character traverses his way through the university student union (the actual gala venue) and dispatches several villains on his way to host the gala. The final filmed scene shows Bond opening a set of doors to enter the university grand ballroom and the gala. At that moment, the viewers are transitioned from the video to a live shot of Bond entering the room. The switch from video to live action successfully caught most of the audience unaware.
CASE awards participating universities for their best work in communications, alumni relations and development each year with the Pride of CASE V Awards Program. Western received a Gold Award over the University of Michigan's Silver Award and the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh who won the Bronze Award.