Six USF employees took home one of the biggest awards in video production at the 2023 Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards on Dec. 2. The InEd Studios team, led by Jared Brown, and including Vanessa Galluppo, David Panton, Jason Su, Gary Granger, and John Cundy, took home two awards: Best Director and Best Magazine Program (series) for its Portraits in Patriotism video series.
The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes excellence in television and media, aiming to spotlight the industry’s finest talents and achievements. The awards ceremony was held in Hollywood, Florida, where nearly 1,000 creatives from Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Puerto Rico gathered to celebrate their accomplishments.
The team has been nominated for nearly a dozen Emmy awards since 2019, winning six of them.
The Portraits in Patriotism video series is a collaborative effort between USF’s College of Education and InEd Studios. The team has created videos and curriculum materials for the featured narratives, focusing on the lives and stories of people who have fled oppressive governments. These resources are used by teachers across the state of Florida to enhance civics curricula, providing students with a deeper understanding of the workings of democracy.
“This dedicated team consistently produces innovative digital content for USF courses and programs,” stated Christine Brown, associate vice president for USF Innovative Education. “While our primary audience is USF students, witnessing their creative and technical expertise shine in this grant-funded collaboration with the College of Education comes as no surprise. Our faculty can attest to the exceptional quality of their work, which is impressive regardless of the audience.”
Most of the time, our audience is USF students. To see their technical expertise lauded on this grant-funded project, a partnership with the College of Education, is no surprise. Our faculty can vouch for the top-notch quality of their work, regardless of the audience.”
In the realm of visual storytelling, the InEd Studios team goes above and beyond in bringing ideas to life.
“This project has been extremely rewarding to work on, not only because of the amazing people we get to work with and the stories we get to tell, but also because these videos potentially impact millions of students and teachers across Florida,” said Jared Brown, director of Innovative Education Studios. “Typically, the content that we create is only for USF students, so this has been an exciting way to reach students across the entire state and beyond.”
The team is proud of the acclaim this impactful series has received.
“It was a humbling experience being surrounded by the greatest filmmakers in the region,” Gary Granger, producer with InEd Studios said. “We couldn’t have done it without the guidance of the participants and the College of Education.”
The project has been received well by the public and the academic community, evidenced by these awards, as well as its recent Davey Award from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. It has also received positive feedback from teachers who appreciated the opportunity to share and learn from the stories of immigrants.
“Teachers in school systems across Florida need resources such as these,” said Deanna Michael, an associate professor in the USF College of Education. “We are uncovering hidden histories and presenting narratives in a way that sparks the imaginations of young students across the state.”
The project’s approach is thorough, with the team interviewing immigrants and sharing their stories of struggle, resilience, and success in their new homeland. The team begins by researching the historical and cultural contexts of each story, then weaves in archival footage, photos, and music to create engaging and informative videos. It also develops lesson plans and learning activities that align with the Florida Curriculum Standards.
“One of the most meaningful parts of the series, for me, is that it helps us share the lived experiences of people who have remarkable and harrowing journeys,” Granger said. “We get to tell their stories and showcase their resiliency.”