By Kelline Linton, Staff Writer
Val Valle watched the Night Riders circle campus, howling at the moon. She watched them chant in the night, and watched as the group ran, jumping into Catclaw Creek. Valle, freshman undeclared major from Helotes, was watching the video “Night Riders in the Sky,” featuring the growing Tuesday night club.
The Optimist highlights this film along with other video documentaries on its Web site, www.acuoptimist.com. Each video is three to five minutes long and is a short visual news story.
This new feature to the Web site was introduced this semester under the supervision of Julia Reid. Reid, junior photojournalism major from Abilene, had charge of the Prickly Pear’s DVD this year.
Two videographers work for the Optimist, Hutton Harris, sophomore broadcast journalism major from Sulphur Springs, and Dustin Reid, junior electronic media major from Rockwall. They interview, film and edit all the videos. Both have worked with Julia Reid to edit the Prickly Pear DVDs in the past and are familiar with the filming technology.
“This is personally a great outlet for video makers,” Julia Reid said.
Fourteen films are currently available to students and anyone who visits the Optimist Web site.
“The videos’ goal is to give people who go to ACU a more in-depth look of what goes on at ACU,” Harris said.
The present films cover Sunrise devotional during Welcome Week; student band Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys; Bid Night; the football team’s new quarterback Billy Malone and other recent topics. The latest film is a close look at JamFest.
Student response for the new aspect of the Optimist has been positive. Valle said she enjoyed the Night Rider film.
“It was nice to see things from their perspective,” she said.
Michelle Ward, freshman art major from Bellingham, Wash., watched the video featuring the Centennial Gallery at the Grace Museum, which included a look at the art from the university’s past 100 years.
“As an art student, I would love to see artwork created by students who went through the same program I am going through,” Ward said. “The film has encouraged me to see some of the history of ACU at the Grace Museum.”
