New SC State Greenhouse 60 Second PSA Script

 

60 Second PSA Script 

Music Bed Under Voice...

Looking to brighten up your home or office with a pretty new plant? Or maybe give one as a gift to a friend or family member? The holiday season is upon us right? 

Well, you don't have to leave campus to buy a beautiful potted peace lily (as I did!), succulent, begonia... or how about black stem elephant ears or rex vines? There are two dozen types of plants to choose from! 

Since August, the BECT Greenhouse has been open behind the planetarium, near the ROTC building. BECT stands for Business, Environment, Communication and Transportation. Since 2022 the institute has been doing good things around campus such as the new greenhouse that among things offers learning opportunities for botany students and local school children. 

The plant sale happens the second Monday of each month so the next one will be on December 8. But if you stop by when graduate assistant Penelope Fennell is watering the plants, you probably can buy one or more then. 

So bring some green to the Greenhouse. You won't leave empty-handed! 

Music Out

Music used is from Incompetech.com.

Here's my completed 60 second PSA!

The video was edited using Adobe Premiere Pro. Here is a screen shot of the production. 

This video PSA was produced as a demonstration project to share with my TV Production class at SC State in the Fall 2025 semester. I also produced an audio version of the plant sale for use in my Radio Production class, also this semester. 

Here is the SoundCloud link to that 60-second PSA and below is the screenshot of Adobe Audition. Students in the radio class edit projects in Audition. I slightly sped up my narrative audio so the piece was within 60 seconds. Here is how to do that. 

Listen to my PSA here

Green Screen Fun: Where Do You Want To Be?

Our TV studio's "green screen" walls have been in demand this semester. Already this semester, three or four students and student organizations have booked time for various video and still photography projects.

So this got me thinking that my Electronic Media Production II students should be exposed to the capabilities of green screen or chroma key technology, as it's also called. What this allows us to do is superimpose a background to the photo or video shots against a solid green backdrop. Blue also works.

Here are a couple before and after examples. I processed in Adobe Premiere Elements, which we have in our Dell and student computer labs in Crawford.

                 

I used PhotoShop in the second image to crop the black border.
Here's another version of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. This one has some action of me running! Thanks to my students Stephen and Marcos for taking a few shots of me against the studio green screen.  One tip, it would look better if I was shot from farther back so I would be smaller in the action shot.

In the shot below, I had the camera back several feet from the above one, when taking the photo of me against the Green Screen. I may have been too close to the wall in the one below. Some green is bleeding over on the outline of my shirt. 

In Adobe Premiere Elements, here are the steps to take your green screen image/video and put it against the desired background:

For still shots, the final step, missing from the above, is to hit the camera icon to save as a still shot the image the cursor is on in Adobe Premiere Pro.It will be saved as a bmp file format, which can be uploaded or inserted to your Blogger post. 

Here is a screen capture of where the two shots should go. Your green screen background shot goes in Video 2 and your background image in Video 1. 

o remove the Green Screen effect, right click on taffected clip, go to Remove Effects (note: you must have that clip highlighted or clicked on for this step to work)

Communications' Television Studio In Action!

In this video, we see the steps involved in setting up the very fine TV studio on the second floor of Crawford Communications on the campus of South Carolina State University.

Once the studio and control room are prepared, it's time for...Lights...Cameras....Action!!!

The NewTek Tricaster allows for use of virtual sets and the switching among the three studio cameras. I'ts a real neat systems that, with a little bit of training, has the students doing lots of interviews and other projects.

Cookbook Author Holly Herrick Interviewed in Communications TV Studio

Communications major Destinee Chambliss conducted a high quality interview with Charleston-based cookbook author Holly Herrick on April 9.

The interview was recorded in the S.C. State Communications Program's television studio located in Crawford Hall, new home to the growing program.

Recent Graduates Share Success Stories at Communications Colloquium

At the debut Communications Colloquium on April 15, three recent college graduates, each working in broadcasting, encouraged students to focus on what they really want to do in their careers, then pursue those goals with vigor.

S.C. State's Bulldog Nation!

Come to the campus of South Carolina State University and there's no question what the school's mascot is: the BULLDOG!

Bulldogs can be seen everywhere around campus: in front of buildings, on fences, by pools of water, on walls, sidewalks and signs. This slideshow shows you how S.C. State loves its bulldogs, and how bulldogs love S.C. State!

Bulldogs on Campus - Kizoa Video Maker

This slideshow was prepared with a really neat and fun free slideshow program called Kizoa. Check it out at kizoa.com! 

Magic's Keys to Business Success: Hard Work, Smart Decisions

The much-anticipated March 26 visit to South Carolina State University by Hall of Fame hoopster, post-NBA business tycoon Earvin "Magic" Johnson was all anyone in Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center could want.

Johnson, founder and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, was engaging, anecdotal, humorous at times, and full of important advice for success in the business world and life in general. 

Magic Johnson kept in casual walking in the aisles of SMH

"I grew up poor but my dreams were never poor," was just one of dozens of inspirational remarks from Johnson before a large crowd of SCSU students, staff, faculty and other friends of the school. 

Johnson told of his early post-basketball business successes with movie theaters and Starbucks shops in urban areas. 

In these clips, Johnson talked about how basketball prepared him for his business career and how he remains careful, frugal even, with his money. Johnson said he has only two cars. Why? Because he says he is careful with his wealth and because he only needs two cars. 

SCSU's School of Business arranged Johnson's visit as part of its 43rd Annual Business Week. 

Cookbook Author Holly Herrick to Visit SCSU April 9

Public Invited to Book Signing From 11-Noon
Charleston-based cookbook author, food blogger and writer Holly Herrick will speak to South Carolina State University students on Thursday, April 9. She will also have a book signing that is open to the campus and Orangeburg-area community.

Herrick has written seven books, most recently "The French Cook- Soups and Stews" published by Gibbs Smith in September 2014. This is the third entry in her French cook series, which also includes "Cream Puffs and Eclairs" and "Sauces." She has also authored "Food Lovers' Charleston and Savannah- The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings," "Tart Love- Sassy, Savory, and Sweet," "Southern Farmers Market Cookbook," and "The Charleston Chef's Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the Heart of the Old South."

On April 9, Herrick will speak to Patrick Harwood's digital media class about her savvy use of social media to inform and market. Then she will be interviewed in the communications program's television studio by students in his TV production course.

In between those two classes, Herrick will be available to sign and sell copies of her cookbooks from 11 a.m.-noon in the television studio located on the second floor of the former Crawford Hall Engineering Building on Gaillard Street across from a Bank of America ATM machine.

Author Holly Herrick 

 "As a child, I loved cooking from our garden with my Nanna, but decided I wanted to be a journalist 'when I grew up,'" Herrick writes on her website, hollyherrick.com.

She graduated cum laude in journalism at Boston College, then in subsequent years "with good fortune and a dash of tempered bravery" moved to Paris to study cuisine and pastry at the prestigious culinary school Le Cordon Bleu. 

After graduating with Le Grande Diplome, "life and subsequent travels" took Herrick to many places: New York, Chicago, rural France and Jackson Hole, Wyo.

In 2000, she moved to Charleston where she wrote food, restaurant and travel reviews for The Post and Courier. Since then she's written for many regional and national publications including Southern Living and Food and Wine, winning writing awards along the way.

She published her first book, "The Charleston Chef's Table" in 2010.

Her visit to South Carolina State University is sponsored by the Communications Program, which is part of the Department of English and Modern Languages.

For more information, contact Patrick Harwood at 803.536. 8839 or pharwood@scsu.edu.

Cover of Holly Herrick's latest cookbook

Released by Gibbs Smith publishing on Sept. 1, 2014, Herrick's seventh book is "The French Cook- Soups and Stew."

In it, the lover of France and French cooking "jumps into bowl after bowl of glorious French soups with inspired abandon and a generous dose of classical technique."

Additional information about her S.C. State visit can be found on Herrick's website.

The Many Faces of Legend James Brown on Display at SCSU's Stanback Museum

I really enjoy taking my classes to the I.P. Stanback Museum for its amazing James Brown exhibit. The legendary singer and performer known by several nicknames- "The Godfather of Soul," "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business," "Soul Brother Number One" and "Mr. Dynamite," among others- passed in 2006 (on Christmas Day) at age 73.

But his legacy and influence live on in colorful, tangible forms- his costumes, shoes, furniture, and vast hair product- in this well-designed and organized display at the museum. The exhibit is officially titled, "The Influence of James Brown: His Imprint on Music, Dance, Style and Politics."

South Carolina State University is one of a few institutions to be selected by the legal system, amid contentious Brown estate battles that have waged for year, as depositories of his belongings. The Stanback Museum staff has done an outstanding job of representing the legendary artist's many faces, dimensions and influences (Michael Jackson, Usher, Prince and Mick Jagger each call Brown an important influence in their own styles and artistry).

Michael Cassidy (pictured right), the museum's installation manager, gave us an insightful tour. He and fellow guide Davion Petty share with visitors many stories for Brown's storied career, which was recently featured in the 2014 film, "Get On Up" starring South Carolina native Chadwick Boseman as "Mr. Dynamite" himself.

The Stanback Museum's Facebook site includes an interesting link to a Huffington Post article titled "5 Ways James Brown Made An Impact on American Culture."

The piece describes Brown's lasting influence in this areas: social activism, politics, music, education and style.

The museum's Michael Cassidy attempted to sum up the exhibit's tribute to James Brown in Vine's very limited six second forum:

A quote on the wall caught my eye as nicely articulating Brown's legendary fashion sense and style. It's from singer, producer, rapper and DJ Mayer Hawthorne: "James Brown's the perfect example of flashy but classy. Classy does not have to mean boring. His gear was flamboyant but without being so over the top."

Catch it while you can! South Carolina State's James Brown exhibit continues until August. Call the I.P. Stanback Museum for hours and tour information at 803.536.7000 or 1.800.260.5956.

Finally, while I'm no experiment the hundreds of songs James Brown wrote and recorded during his long, distinguished career. The exhibit here on campus has inspired me to listen to him more. I have a James Brown Pandora station, for example. My favorite song of his is clearly this one: "Cold Sweat." Check out him performing this classic from 1967! 

What's the Word? Topic: MEAC Men's Basketball Tournament

In speaking about the fun social media application Vine in class yesterday, I demonstrated how quick and easy it is to post a six second video. My Electronic Media Production II class includes several students involved in the recent Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's basketball tournament in Norfolk, Va.

The South Carolina State University Bulldogs won one game in the tourney before falling in the next round. Player Patrick Kirksey and cheerleaders Destinee Chambliss and Kendra Piglar gave quick responses to the question about the best thing about the tournament in Norfolk.

S.C. State finished the season with an overall record of 11-22, 7-9 in MEAC play.
Steps to post Vine videos on Blogger: (insert URL in HTML setting)

In Blogger when you are in the New Post part, write a few or more lines to set up your Vine video. When you are ready to put in the embed URL (go to your Vine video and click on the three dots--... but vertical--next to the video which will show you ways to share the video. Click on embed and copy the URL that comes up.)

When you are posting in Blogger, the blank page has the words "Compose" and "HTML" at the top left of the screen. Normally it is is Compose. But to embed your Vine video, at the point in your post where you want us to see the video, switch from Compose to HTML. In HTML you'll see all the code. Paste in the embed URL. Then go back to Compose. Your video will now be seen!

Bulldog Barber Shop Commercial

S.C. State students are fortunate to have a fine barbershop right here on campus! Check out this 30 second commercial I prepared to help get the word out about the "Bulldog Barber"- Mr. Thad Miller! The school barbershop has been open just over a year now. Barber Thad Miller has more than 30 years experience cutting hair.  This video is also on YouTube.

Students need to go to the S.C. State Cashier's Office to pay and get the receipt to present before getting their cuts at the Kirkland W. Green Student Center (aka The PITT).

Photo Processing: Before and After!

That wacky Professor Harwood gave us an assignment to use Photoshop or other image editing software to show we can improve the quality of images using such tools...or just have fun and do something creative. I have a little of each in my presentation.

SYLLABUS- Electronic Media Production II (updated after midterms)

ELECTRONIC MEDIA PRODUCTION II 
Fall 2014         BC 203-01
MWF 2-2:50      Turner A Room 273

Blog Midterm Exam Requirements- Advanced Television Production and Editing

SCSU's Orangeburg Massacre Memorial

On the campus of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg is a solemn memorial to one of darkest days in the Palmetto State's history: The Orangeburg Massacre. On Feb. 8, 1968 some 150 protesters, including many SCSU students, gathered at the All Star Bowling Alley on Russell Street, which was segregated. Black were not allowed to bowl there.