Focus on U campus TV show incorporates many students

If you are looking for a show that has entertainment mixed with news, the campus based media show Focus on U might be the thing for you. Focus on U is a variety/talk show that is taped live with pre-taped segments which range from informational to fictitious. Focus on U is taped on campus at UW-River Falls in the Kleinpell Fine Arts building.

“We’ve had people do segments on current affairs and local events, to basically short fi lms and comedic sketches,” said Axel Sunstrom, a student at the University and executive producer of the show. “We have had guests on to talk about upcoming events many times, and continue to do so.”

A lot of the guests come from campus and around town like the mayor and the city engineer who talked about the road construction. There have also been guests from the Twin Cities including Twin Cities Live’s John Hanson, and people from all over the country. A few semesters ago the show had some independent producers from National Geographic. There were also some musical talents from around the area.

“We are important to the campus in many ways,” Sunstrom said. “As a media outlet, we have had a lot of important guests on our show to share information with the rest of the campus.” There have been a lot of guests from all sorts of places and have many different views of the world.

The show is also a means of promotion for local and school wide events, such as UWRF theater production, charity events and more. Student involvement is encouraged when it comes to putting the show together.

“What I think the most important aspect of our show is though, is student participation,” said Sunstrom. “We are a student org, and are open at all times to new members.”

Anyone on campus has the ability to broadcast his or her ideas. People can come and produce their own segments on whatever subject they feel passionate about. If students don’t know how to work a camera or edit footage, they will be helped through the process. It is an opportunity for students to create something important and learn new skills and have fun at the same time. There are also other ways for students to get involved.

“To get involved, just come to our meetings,” said Ben Perez, a student at the University and director of the show. “In our meetings we brainstorm about the content of the upcoming shows and critique and comment on our previous shows and that’s how we get better.”

Meetings are held every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:45 p.m. in room 112 at the Kleinpell Fine Arts building.

“We urge people out there to watch the show, and to support campus media,” Perez said. “It’s on channel 119 on campus and 19 out of campus at 9 a.m. 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.”

The spring finale of the show will be taped live in the Falcon’s Nest on May 8 at 7 p.m. Doors will be opening up at 6:30 p.m. There will be games, prizes and a performance by musical guest Bad Habits Brass (formerly Ghetto Falsetto). For more information about Focus on U or about how to get involved students can contact Erik Johnson, faculty advisor of the show, at erik.johnson@uwrf.edu or Ben Perez at benjamin.perez@my.uwrf.edu.