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MediaLab’s ‘Changing Currents’ nominated for Emmy
MediaLab’s ‘Changing Currents’ nominated for Emmy
Image: Rachel Lovrovich ’18, general manager of MediaLab and creative director for “Changing Currents,” films at the Connecticut River. (Photo courtesy of MediaLab)
By Robert Marshall Wells
Contributing writer
TACOMA, WASH. (May 4, 2017)- MediaLab, the applied research and multimedia program at Pacific Lutheran University, has received a 2017 Emmy Award nomination from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences — Northwest Chapter for the documentary film ``Changing Currents: Protecting North America’s Rivers.``
Changing Currents, which publicly premiered in Tacoma in November 2016, received a college division nomination in the “Long-Form Nonfiction” category of the competition. The winner will be announced at a Seattle awards ceremony in early June.
Joshua Wiersma ’18, who served as assistant editor and video journalist on the film, said the recognition is extremely gratifying. “Receiving an Emmy nomination is exciting and humbling,” Wiersma said. “My fellow filmmakers and I worked hard to make the documentary thought-provoking and influential. So, it’s a great feeling to have our efforts acknowledged in this way.”
Changing Currents was produced by a team that included Wiersma, a communication major, as well as fellow communication major Christopher Boettcher ’17, art and design major Kelly Lavelle ’18, business major John Struzenberg ’16, and digital media major Rachel Lovrovich ’18.
The film contained an original soundtrack composed by music major Melody Coleman, ’17, and narration by communication major Terran Warden ’17.
Changing Currents explores the many challenges facing waterways across North America, roughly half of which are contaminated and unfit for drinking, fishing or swimming. During production of the film, the researchers conducted dozens of interviews, meeting with average citizens, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water utility experts, members of Native American and Canadian First Nations tribes, and many other public and private organizations.
The Emmy nomination adds to several other recognitions received so far by “Changing Currents,” including a First Place Grand Prize from the National Broadcasting Society, six Accolade of Southern California Awards, and a Mercury Design Award for the graphics and branding associated with the film.
Since its establishment in 2006, MediaLab has received more than three dozen other national and international recognitions, including four First Place Grand Prizes from the National Broadcasting Society, six Emmy nominations and one Emmy win. For more information about “Changing Currents,” or other MediaLab projects and productions, please visit www.changingcurrentsdoc.com or https://www.plu.edu/medialab/, or call Rachel Lovrovich at 253-459-9229, or email lovrovrp@plu.edu.