By Meredith Higgins

When 18 University of Colorado students and two professors recently sat down to watch a TV sitcom, they were very proud. Why? Because they created it.

Each one of their names showed up in the credits as actors, directors, camera operators, make-up artists, set designers or editors for this version of NBC's "Suddenly Susan."

Photo by Larry Hardwood, CU Institutional Relations

Art Annecharico observes a student camera operator

The show was the product of a class, and it wasn't your average journalism course. In six weeks, CU acting, film and journalism students created a complete sitcom. With the help of former Hollywood studio executive Art Annecharico, Assistant Dean Steve Jones and Tom Edwards, director of production services at TCI's National Digital Television Center, the students were given an opportunity they aren't likely to forget.

Although curriculum at the School includes a complete list of course offerings in editorial and broadcast news, many students are drawn to careers in the entertainment industry. Several jumped at the opportunity to create every aspect of a sitcom. With the use of TCI's NDTC studio and the "Suddenly Susan" script, they were given a glimpse of the process of sitcom production.

The class was proposed by Annecharico who had the insight, the connections and the enthusiasm to give the students the rewarding opportunity.

Jennifer Altobell is a Broadcast Production Management student whose interest in entertainment has driven her since childhood.

Photos by Larry Hardwood, CU Institutional Relations

Adjunct instructor Art Annecharico, a veteran Hollywood producer, reviews production assignments with CU-Boulder students (from left) Megan Michaels, Jess Kelly, Helen Pace, Jen Altobell and Beth Mahoney at TCI's state-of-the-art National Digital Television Center in Denver.

"Some of the students in my TV 2 class love TV but do not want to be journalists. And with such dated facilities, we can't produce much on our own either. Luckily, Art was willing to help," Altobell said.

Annecharico's involvement in the entertainment industry spanned more than 35 years as sound engineer, camera operator, editor, writer, producer and director. He retired when he sold Arthur Co., his independent production company, to Universal Studios. His company was one of the largest in the entertainment industry throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Now, using his career in the industry, Annecharico helps students learn from his experience.

He volunteers his time by teaching TV and film. With two Emmy Awards and several other honors highlighting his career, Annecharico said he knows it is not easy for students at CU to get the well-rounded experience necessary to be a success in such a competitive field.

"Instead of criticizing the University, I decided to help," Annecharico said. "I wanted to turn their lights on."

He secured the script through his contacts in Hollywood. Now all the class needed was a facility that could make the sitcom as real as possible and accommodate everyone. Jones contacted Edwards, who has regularly taught at the School as an adjunct instructor. In his interest to help and maintain TCI's good relationship with the University, Edwards donated four days of studio time to the students.

Broadcast Production Management major Brendon Kelly tries his hand at acting as the male lead, Jack.	Megan Michaels, Jess Kelly and Helen Pace call the shots at the production panel

"Tom has a daughter in college as well as a connection to CU, so he was willing to do what ever he could to help," Jones said.

The students had only two days a week for five weeks to complete the challenge. They auditioned actors, rehearsed, prepared the set and costumes, and assigned positions. Annecharico said he enjoyed seeing the students from the three different disciplines join forces.

"With all the students interested in entertainment, it seemed only natural that they worked so well together, " Annecharico said. "I just taught the positions and gave them the freedom to take the steps they wanted to get to their goal."

The class reserved four days in late February at the NDTC studios. Altobell said Annecharico made it very clear to students that they were professionals, that they would be working with state-of-the-art equipment and that the cameras alone cost $250,000 each.

"Because we had so little time, we knew that we had to be mature and work hard. We felt very capable, and the guys at the studio responded by being very helpful," Altobell said.

Beth Mahoney, another Broadcast Production Management student, said she didn't know what to expect when she got to NDTC. "We were all like children being let loose in a toy store. I felt extremely lucky to have the opportunity to use the studio," Mahoney said.

Although each student was assigned a position, they all participated in every facet of the production "It was great to watch a student improve while operating the camera or a personal assistant give the director advice," Jones said. "It was even an amazing experience for me because I was able to catch up on the most up-to-date equipment."

Annecharico was equally excited about the students' quick ability to learn.

"As the project got going they were so driven to excel that they began to notice their own mistakes," he said. "The final product was a complete success. But, in this case, it is not the result that matters but the process and the insight they gained."

The sitcom class was a test run for the students and professors at the School. Next spring the School will expand the class to a full semester and open it to art and music students as well. "But the facilities in the department really need to be updated if we want to create other classes like this one," Annecharico said.

Eventually he would like to make a financial contribution that would go to upgrading the equipment and eventually building a full production studio.

Edwards said that, depending on the availability, the students will be able to use the TCI facilities again next spring.

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