During Spring semester, 2009, the TCOM 260 class: “Writing for Electronic Media” at Bowling Green State University, ran a “contest” to produce a :30 second public service announcement for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northwestern Ohio Chapter. The “prize” for the contest was to have the writer’s script produced to air on FOX Toledo, WUPW-TV.
BGSU graduate, Trisha Courtney-Tishler, Director of Media/MS Promotions, was to judge of the scripts and choose the one showing the most universal appeal to air year-round. Fellow Alum and BGSU Adjunct Instructor, Dave Skorupski, Research Director for FOX Toledo, WUPW-TV, volunteered to produce the spot.
The “winning” script was written by (then) Sophomore student, Kathryn “Kat” Sibio, a student of Dr. Lori Liggett.
Sibio’s script was chosen because of its simplicity and reinforcement of the “Movement” theme used by the National MS Society. The script emphasized the differences between being an active participant in life and sitting as an observer. The script also drew attention to the relationship of MS patients to their families.
Due to scheduling difficulties, Sibio was unable to be present during taping of the PSA, but she was present for the editing process. As she discovered, even though she envisioned her script to appear a certain way, additions, subtractions and other revisions were still necessary to complete the spot. Some of the biggest surprises in production came in choosing video clips, music, graphic fonts as well as scene transitions.
These simple, yet complicated decisions, can play a major part in the mood and feel of the piece and should not be taken lightly.