Omaha’s Got Magic: Joe Brogie

Some talents are easy for anyone to spot.  A dancer soaring across a stage or a singer filling a room with music.  But some talents are more subtle.  Making magic appear in our modern world is a completely different kind of talent.  Anyone watching magician and hypnotist Joe Brogie work his magic (literally) can’t deny that he’s got a true talent for magic.

Brogie says he got a knack for magic when he was in elementary school.  He would learn card tricks and use them to connect with classmates.  He kept studying and practicing magic all throughout high school and in college.  He attended Wayne State College studying Biology.  After college, he decided to move to Omaha to make a name for himself.

Today, Brogie performs his shows at corporate events, post-proms, graduation parties, formals and more.

To see where Joe is performing next, check out his website at:

http://www.joebrogielive.com/

Check out his video here:

Recap: Megan Hunt

If you want to know more about Megan Hunt, it wouldn’t be hard for you to do.  Perhaps you could friend her on Facebook.  Or follow her on Twitter, @Lasertron.  If you want to see pictures of her designs, you could follow her on Instagram.  Megan is perhaps one of the most advanced social media users in Omaha.  With over 4,000 followers on Twitter and 1,692 followers on Instagram, she has a lot of people listening to what she has to say.  But why does it matter how many followers she has?

Megan created a bridal design company exclusively online.  She makes felt bouquets and sells them to brides who want to have a bouquet that can last forever.  She also designs gowns, mainly for bridesmaids.  What makes her unique is that she also blogs about the process of making these gifts.  And to market her company, she didn’t buy a bunch of advertisements for magazines or newspapers.  She simply used Twitter and other social media outlets to advertise her products. Through her blogging and tweeting, she expanded her business. 

Princess Lasertron inspired her to create her second business, Hello Holiday.  Hello Holiday is a start up company that helps aspiring fashion designers get their name more well known.  Megan, along with Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik, offer funding to new designers by selling their clothes and accessories on their website.  Megan and Sarah describe it best in their “About” section of their Hello Holiday website:

             “Both of us wanted to create a charming and exuberant approach to style and online shopping that we hadn’t yet seen in the market–an accessible, friendly brand that offered sophisticated but whimsical options in fashion for women like us on the brink of a major milestone. Finishing a degree, making a big career leap, buying a house, perhaps a marriage. For us, there’s always a new challenge on the horizon, and a new adventure penned into our datebooks. We know there are millions more of you out there who understand.”

Megan is an excellent example of an entrepreneur who thinks outside of the box.  Social media completely changed the way our society consumes news and learns about new products.  Companies from Southwest Airlines to Mary Kay Makeup products use social media to advertise now, but Megan was smart enough to use it many years ago and have it be her main marketing tool.  She is truly an inspiration to all students who want to create a brand. 

Dancer/Choreographer Trish Ryan

 

There couldn’t be a blog called “Omaha’s Got Talent” without a post about a dancer.  One of the oldest and most finest arts is the art of dance.  And one of Omaha’s most talented dancers is Trish Ryan.  

Trish began dance at a very young age, and found a passion for it right from the start.  She took gymnastics and dance lessons throughout her childhood.  After graduating from high school, Trish auditioned for a performing arts group called the Young Americans.  She was accepted into the group and went on tour with them for several years.  

Returning back to Omaha, Trish was a Universal Dance Association staff member, as well as an Omaha Nighthawks Cheerleader.  She currently teaches hip hop at Nebraska Dance.  She is also a well-known choreographer.  High schools around the Omaha metro area pay top dollar for her to create routines for them.  Her full time job is being the Head Spirit Coordinator at Midland University.  Midland’s Dance Team placed 1st in their division at Regionals and will be competing at Nationals this week in Daytona, Florida.  

Check out my video of Trish here: 

Kyle Benecke

Videographer for the Omaha World Herald, Kyle Benecke, came to Media Storytelling last Monday.  With video stories due, students listened with interest as Kyle explained the “ins and outs” of filming and reporting news.

A former UNO student, Kyle graduated with a broadcasting degree.  He began his career at Channel 6 running tapes behind the scenes.  He then moved onto Fox 42 News where he learned more about producing video.  He said he finally learned how to shoot and edit videos, and put together video packages.   From Fox 42 News, Kyle went onto work where he currently works, the Omaha World Herald.

Now, ten years ago it wouldn’t make sense for a videographer to work at newspaper.  But in our modern day and age, and with the convergence of media, a videographer can be essential to a newspaper.  The way the public consumes news has changed.  The majority of the population not only reads a newspaper, they also watch the news on TV or search for it online. This online media is what makes a videographer so important.  

At the Herald, Kyle stresses the need to post videos quickly.  The quicker the news can be out there for the public to consume, the better.  That’s not to say that you should post poor quality videos, only to say–move fast. The Omaha World Herald wants the public to know that we can trust them, and also that they post the news first.  

Kyle proceeded to show the class some of his videos.  Most of the class agrees that the most interesting story was about a man who would bike to work even after a snowstorm!  Kyle explained that it is our job to make a mundane story into a more interesting story.  That is what the public wants to see!  

Like many of the lecturers before him, Kyle stressed the importance of knowing everything!  Journalism is not what it used to be.  It is imperative in today’s world to be able to multi-task and be able to perform many different duties with a job.  

WOWT’s LeAnne Morman

 

Credited as one of the first backpack journalists, LeAnne Morman visited our Media Storytelling class Monday, March 25.  LeAnne found she liked broadcasting early in her life.  While attending Northwest Highschool here in Omaha, LeAnne began anchoring for the morning newscasts at her school.  After graduating high school, LeAnne attended the Universtiy of Nebraska at Omaha pursuing a degree in Broadcast Journalism.   She began her professional career as a photographer in the Omaha area before being hired at WOWT as a backpack journalist.  

 

LeAnne stressed the importance of backpack journalism.  She said that as a backpack journalist, you need to shoot, write and produce the story.  For some stories, a reporter might go on the scene with a photographer.  The photographer will shoot the reporter while the reporter conducts an interview.  A reporter will write the story, and the photographer will edit it.  It is a team effort when it comes to journalism, but us students keep hearing how important it is to know EVERYTHING!  

 

From there, LeAnne went on to explain how news packages are put together. A news package is made up of interviews, track (narrative) and B-Roll.  Another method to use would be VOSOT.  V.O. stands for Voice Over, while S.O.T. stands for Sound On Tape.  The V.O. could be a voice over of the anchor speaking during a live news cast.  The S.O.T. can be the interview conducted between the reporter and the person being interviewed.  

 

From there, she talked about the proper ways to conduct interviews.  First she spoke on how to frame interviews. 

 

How To Frame Interviews

1).  Divide frame into thirds 

2).  Wide shot

3).  Medium

4) Tight

 

Secondly, she talked about the importance of lighting.

 

Lighting: 

-When interviewing someone or shooting any sort of B Roll, do not shoot an interview with natural light back lighting a person.  You want the light from a window to shine on their face

-If you can bring your own light, that is ideal…Even use flashlights!  

LeAnne brought logistics about T.V. producing that our class hadn’t heard before.  All her information could be applicable to students in some sort of the way.