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With cameras in place, the scene was set Friday in a two-story house on Ferry Street, just outside of campus. University students were put on the spot as they improvised scenes for a "UO Real World" parody. Actors played sorority-girl, party-guy and bookworm stereotypes while they were loosely directed by the production staff, including a camera man, director and sound recorder. The parody is the latest addition to the line up for Duck U, the student-run television program that airs locally in Eugene and on campus and is sponsored by the School of Journalism and Communication.
Nearly 50 University students are involved in creating the 30-minute show, which includes segments such as News and Sports, Tip of the Week and "Out and About," a segment that features students traveling around campus and Eugene to illustrate what's going on in the community. Along with the addition of the Real World parody, Duck U plans to do a Cribs parody as well, although that is still in the works, said Brian Merrell, a fifth-year multimedia major and one of Duck U's four executive producers.
"We expect this to be the biggest year with the biggest audience ever," Merrell said. The first episode of Duck U aired last night at 9 p.m. and will be repeated Thursday at 9 p.m. on channel 14 in the residence halls. Duck U will be broadcast tonight at 10 p.m. on Comcast cable channel 23 for those not in the residence halls.
"It's a show for students, by students," said Phyllis Lee, a senior history major and director of the reality-TV segment for Duck U. "The point of [the Real World parody] is to portray student stereotypes to the extreme."
Katie Schroeder, a junior journalism major who plays a sorority girl stereotype in the Real World parody, said she had to audition to be part of the on-air talent.
"I like having fun and this is just fun," Schroeder said. "This is my second year; last year I was a sports reporter and this term I'm doing reality TV. I get to act and it's a good experience." Duck U's in-studio segments are shot in 120 Allen Hall, although most of the show is taped on campus and around the Eugene area, Merrell said.
The show is run entirely by students, although they have a faculty advisor, journalism Assistant Professor Rebecca Force. Force helps give guidance and input, especially during the audition process, Merrell said.
Merrell said students involved in Duck U aren't paid, but they do get course credit. "We don't spend money on props and sets; it's low budget ... We're not funded, although [Associate Dean and journalism Professor] Al Stavitsky does give us some money for advertising and tapes," Merrell said.
As a means of generating revenue, Duck U will be offering advertising space to student groups, Merrell said, adding that Duck U hasn't done much to promote itself in the past, but that it has teamed up with Allen Hall Advertising to get the word out about the program. Merrell said people can register to be a part of Duck U because it is offered in the course schedule as an upper-division journalism course, although they hold auditions for many of the on-air positions.
"It's a really good opportunity for people to get experience and to build a portfolio," Merrell said. "Unless you only want to be on-air talent, pretty much anyone can get involved." Duck U is just starting its third year at the University, said Merrell, who got involved with the program halfway through its first year.
Merrell added that the program is working to break out of the journalism school. The plan is to involve the theater department and to introduce a comedy segment sometime in the future.
"I think this could be a good collaboration," Merrell said.
Duck U has already completed auditions for fall term, but there are still openings for editors who know how to use Final Cut Pro editing software, Merrell said.
To learn more about Duck U or to get involved, visit the Duck U Web site at www.duckutv.com.
canelawood@dailyemerald.com
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