The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have nominated associate professor Craig Leake’s documentary Inside Story, filmed in the Department of Communication and Fine Arts, for a regional Emmy Award.
Inside Story focuses on playwright and actor Elaine Blanchard’s efforts to teach female prison inmates how to write about their lives before incarceration. The idea for Inside Story came from a list of suggested topics given by non-profit organizations, Leake explained.
“The COMM 4892 class takes one of the projects suggested over the past couple of years and we devote time to turning it into a short film,” Leake said. “Members of the community suggested that we look into what Elaine Blanchard was doing.”
Students in Leake’s COMM 4892 Film and Video Production class had an active part in the production and filming of the project.
“They worked as members of the crew,” Leake said. “They worked on cinematography, filming, and preliminary editing.”
The film was produced and edited by Leake, which earning him his fourth Emmy nomination and possibly his third regional Emmy.
“We like those trophies, it’s one thing we have in common with athletics,” Leake said.
Leake appreciates both his nominations and wins. Before he began his teaching career, Leake worked with television networks where he received five National Emmys and a number of other major awards for his non-fiction filmmaking.
“It feels great to get recognition from my peers,” Leake said. “It says that they notice my work and that my documentaries are informative and entertaining. It also increases the chance of being able to do the next documentary.”
The awards will be announced Jan. 31, at a live broadcast ceremony in Nashville.
