Three AU Communication students win Telly Awards for their anti-smoking PSAs
Staff report
Three Augusta University Communication students have won Telly Awards for best social media video in the student category.
Chris Woods, Faydia Ramnarine and Makaiyla Reed won Telly Awards for their anti-smoking PSAs that were produced in conjunction with the Georgia Cancer Center. Woods, a senior, won gold, and Ramnarine, who graduated in May, and Reed, a junior, each won silver.
“I am super proud of all three,” said Communication Adjunct Instructor Arthur Takahashi, who taught the students in the Audiovisual Media Production course at AU. “If you take a look at the professional categories, you will see some big names that compete for this award, so this is a big deal.”
The New York-based Tellys are awards for television and video, and winners come from major networks and Hollywood. The Tellys began in 1979 to honor commercials in broadcast and cable television, but now also includes the digital format. More than 12,000 entries were made this year from all 50 states and five continents.
“I was very surprised when I received this award among my fellow classmates,” Ramnarine said. “I was so impressed with their work and was proud to be in the same category. It meant a lot that the department was willing to help me submit my video to even be considered in the first place.”
Reed also was surprised at being recognized by the Telly Awards.
“When I found out my PSA won a Telly Award, I was shocked how much a 30-second video could make an impact let alone win an award,” she said. “It gave me further motivation to create bigger projects that inspire the world.”
Reed said she learned a lot about story telling in the Audiovisual Media Production course.
“What I learned most in Professor Takahashi's COMM 3030 class was that without emotion, you have nothing,” Reed said. “When it comes to creating video, we know that technicalities are important, but without emotion, it's just a video. Storytelling is one of the most important elements you can have in any video.”
Reed and Woods have had their PSAs aired by WRDW on its MY12, CW and the Circle networks during May.
Link to Telly Awards:
https://www.tellyawards.com/winners/2021/social-video/general-student
Woods’ video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7lBy6vQZj4
Ramnarine’s video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJFcucxRFzo
Reed’s video:
