Cooking show to be produced in Botsford-Swinford

<p>Residents of Botsford/Swinford will be able to learn and get involved about the student-run cooking show that is filmed in the Johnson A Complex. Associate Dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media Lori Byers suggested making a TV show in the space before the building was finished. <em>PHOTO PROVIDED BY LORI BYERS</em></p>

Residents of Botsford/Swinford will be able to learn and get involved about the student-run cooking show that is filmed in the Johnson A Complex. Associate Dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media Lori Byers suggested making a TV show in the space before the building was finished. PHOTO PROVIDED BY LORI BYERS

What: Cooking show informational meeting

Where: Botsford/Swinford residence hall's multipurpose room

When: Feb. 4 at 5:30 P.M.

meeting only open to BotSwin residents

Residents of Botsford/Swinford hall have an opportunity to learn about and get involved with the student-run cooking show that will be filmed in the hall.

Lori Byers, associate dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM), toured the building before Botsford/Swinford (also known as BotSwin) was finished and began talking about the possibilities that could take place in the space and test kitchen. 

Since BotSwin is home to the CCIM and communications living-learning communities (LLC), she thought, “Why not create a TV show?” The space came with extra plugs, lighting and TV monitors to accommodate a show, so there was talk about having a cooking show, immediately.

“We started talking about ways to incorporate production training into this cooking show and how to expand it so it includes all [CCIM] majors,” Byers said. “Music Media Production shares this LLC with us, and so we’re going to incorporate a band that will incorporate the piano, so people can learn audio while recording the band and/or by recording the show.”

The Digital Corps will also be involved in the production of the show. They have had a relationship with both the Emerging Media LLC and the Housing and Residence Life office for several years and wanted to create a partnership to leverage the knowledge of the Digital Corps into support for the Emerging Media LLC. 

The Corps helped pick out equipment for the LLC and has done programming in the past. Once they realized that they had the kitchen, gear, chefs on campus and residents who wanted to be creative and get involved, the idea was launched. 

The Corps will train students in skills such as camera and light placement, audio mixing and the process of putting a script together.

“The folks that work for me are really going to oversee a lot of the training and making sure that the residents know how to produce this show,” Brandon Smith, the Digital Corps director, said. “We’re really trying to get the residents who are passionate about this stuff really be the driving force behind what this cooking show even looks like. The Digital Corps is here to just provide whatever help and guidance folks need to get it done.”

Robert Willey, a music professor, said Byers imagined a house band for the show similar to those on late night TV shows. He reached out to students to find someone be the music director and DJ for the show. 

Willey said that his students don’t have too many opportunities to play on a TV show, a different environment from the film and animation scores that they normally do.

“You’re interacting with people doing all sorts of things and something that’s interesting for all types of students. It’s not just the normal application for music. I think it’s important that you find other kinds of places to put music,” he said.

As for who will do the cooking, the student producers have yet to decide. 

Smith said that while there has been talk about having professional chefs from either the Muncie community or Ball State dining, the student producers will choose who they want to bring in. There may also be an opportunity for students to be the chef, said Smith. He wants the producers to be the driving, creative spirit of the show.

“We want to put all the power of producing this thing into the hands of the residents of BotSwin because they’re the ones that want to be creative and have that space at their disposal,” Smith said. “One of the perks of living in [that LLC] is to have access to opportunities like this.”

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