Communications Students Earn First Place in Video Competition

“The Transformation,” a 20-minute film produced by University of La Verne TV broadcast students, has taken first place honors in the national College Broadcasters Inc. competition in the Video Special Broadcast category.

A teen werewolf comedy, “The Transformation,” was written, directed and co-produced by McKinley Pollock ’14 and co-produced by Serena Ghazzawi ’15.

“The Transformation” has previously won awards from the Tellys, the Broadcast Education Association, the Alliance for Community Media (WAVE Award for best screenplay), and the San Bernardino Valley College Film Festival (best screenplay).

Writer and director Pollock, who is currently working toward a second bachelor’s degree in music at La Verne, has won several awards for his video production work during his time on campus, including ones from the Broadcast Education Association, the Tellys, the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards, the Alliance for Community Media WAVE Awards, the 909 Film Festival and the Chaffey College Film Festival.

McKinley is the son of Don Pollock, head of the University of La Verne’s broadcast program. The senior Pollock served as faculty advisor on “The Transformation.”

Ghazzawi, producer of “The Transformation,” is the daughter of La Verne Professor of Management, Dr. Issam Ghazzawi.

Other crew members on “The Transformation” include James Perez, camera,; Christopher Mitzel, lighting; Raquel Lucero, editor; John Comunale assistant director; Taylor Grzechowiak, production designer and Matthew Martin-Hall, audio.