Media Center wins Telly Award for video production | Press Releases

The Fairfield University Media Center, a finalist in the 22nd Annual Telly Awards, received the Bronze Telly Award for its video production of "Aloysius Kelley, S.J. - 50 Years Priest, 20 Years President." The national competition attracts some 11,000 entries from across the country.

Created for Father Kelley's anniversary celebration, the video was screened during the President's Dinner in October 1999 at the World Financial Center in New York City. Produced under the umbrella of the university's Media Center, individuals cited for the video are: Karen Connolly, producer, scriptwriter and editor; James Mayzik, S.J., director; Brian Merry, cinematographer; and Scott Volpe and Jason Kapell, production assistants.

The Telly Awards was founded in 1980 to showcase and give recognition to outstanding non-network and cable television commercials. The competition was expanded several years ago to include film and video productions as well as non-network television programming. It has become one of the most sought-after awards in the television, commercial and video industries.

The judges for the Telly Awards, a group of over 20 qualified production professionals, hail from all regions of the United States - from small towns and major cities as well as small and large firms. All judges have previously won a Silver Telly and represent a cross-section of producers from agencies, television stations, production houses and corporate video departments.

"Aloysius Kelley..." was a particular challenge since it was produced in the middle of the rubble of the Media Center renovations," commented Karen Connolly, writer/producer. "Our goal was to produce a piece that would capture some of the essence of Fr. Kelley and the substantial accomplishments of his work and vocation. So out of the Media Center's temporary chaos came this beautiful tribute to a man so obviously admired, respected and loved," she recalled.

Connolly noted that "the combination of the poignant comments from nearly 35 interviewees, including Fr. Kelley, the beautifully shot scenes of our lovely campus as well as the specially licensed Mozart background music, provided powerful building blocks for this program."

In addition to the Telly Award, "Aloysius Kelley..." won an honorable mention for a documentary from the Communicator Awards, a national program founded by communications professionals to recognize excellence in the field.

The Communicator Awards also recognized another Media Center production - "Mission Possible: The Promise" - with the Award of Distinction. "Mission Possible..." was produced to launch the university's capital campaign drive. It was presented on September 9, 2000, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.