School: Burning inspiration sets PSA aflame
By Sarah Chase
NAMPA - Playing with fire is something parents teach their children not to do, but part of being a Northwest Nazarene University mass communications student is learning the proper way to start a fire.
Fifteen mass communications students participated in a public service announcement (PSA) shoot for the City of Nampa Fire Department on April 23 at an abandoned house in Nampa. The PSA was shot on 16mm film. Deputy Chief Marshal Doug Strosnider at the Nampa Fire Department knew of a local condemned house the student film crew could use for the project. Two days before the shoot, cleaning and painting prepared the ground work for one evening of filming.
Professor Arnie Ytreeide, the NNU mass communications professor, directed the PSA. After about 40 years of experience in media, he knows how to work with fire. Students filled all other roles on the film crew. Many individuals worked behind the scenes. Angela Mincer, a NNU senior and graphics design major, freelanced all the design behind the production.
Ytreeide said the best part about shooting the announcement was to give the students an opportunity to safely film fire in a dangerous environment.
Denae Manby, a public communications senior, is interning at the Nampa Fire Department with the City of Nampa. She got involved in a fire prevention campaign for the Nampa Fire Department and pitched her script idea to Ytreeide. He told her it was a good idea, so she created the script. Besides this, Manby casted the talent and collected props for the shoot.
"Being able to spotlight the issues and effects in our community" is a highlight of this project for Manby, she said.
A grant donated from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a branch of Homeland Security, helped make the PSA. The Nampa Fire Department matched the grant donated by FEMA.
The City of Nampa's fire prevention campaign is rolling just as summer approaches. As of May 1, the spot began airing on Channel 9, and is scheduled to air until June 1.
"We're looking for other TV stations to air the PSA," Manby said.
A reminder to watch out for fire risks is the message of this PSA as the warmest season of the year begins to heat up.
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