DMA team nets Capitol Region Emmys
Members of the Defense Media Activity, Sgt Annika Moody, MGySgt Chad McMeen and Sgt Alex Smith pose with their National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter Emmys after winning the category 17C “Military – Program Feature / Segment.”
This has been an incredible year of first-time accomplishments for Marines in the communication field.
First, Sgt Matthew Callahan shocked the community by securing both the DoD Videographer and Photographer of the year titles and on Saturday June 23rd another Marine team had a historic first.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Chad McMeen, Sergeant Annika Moody and Mr. Grant Stolz from the Defense Media Activity’s Marine production team walked the red carpet to receive an Emmy Award for a video feature focused on the Body Bearers of Marine Barracks Washington D.C.
This is the first time Marines have won, or been nominated for, this prestigious award. As a testament of the quality work coming out of DMA, four other Emmys were earned this year with two regions yet to hold ceremonies. Each service represented their branch with individual wins in a variety of categories in regional chapters across the country.
The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter Emmys were held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center and the room was packed with a record crowd of more than 800 local television news and broadcast professionals attending.
The project started with a simple request from (then) Captain Colleen McFadden from 8th & I to capture video of the Body Bearers firing canons at the Barracks. After some discussion, and once the actual communication goal of increasing participation in the program was identified, the entire project took on a much more elaborate production plan.
The lighting at the Barracks alone took more than six hours to set up and was intended to simulate moonlight and give the dramatic feel which matched the music and somber interview. This look was then matched in the DMA studio and footage from Senator John Glenn’s funeral was added into the final product. No detail was overlooked in planning and execution to include audio pick-ups of the glove sliding down the silk flag so the audience could hear every detail.
This video was released in conjunction with Memorial Day 2017 and has since reached an estimated 43+ million viewers on Marine Corps social media alone.
The win was in category 17C “Military – Program Feature / Segment.” Link to the Winning Production: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/529501/body-bearers-2017-full-video
Contributions to the project are as follows:
MGySgt Chad McMeen – Director / Producer
Sgt Annika Moody – Primary Videographer / Editor
Mr. Grant Stolz – Director of Photography / Videographer
Sgt Alex Smith – Primary Videographer / Editor*
*Because of budget limits we could not list all four names on the nomination but we are working to add one additional Marine to the award since he was a significant contributor to the project.
The Live Broadcast can be found here: https://www.capitalemmys.tv/emmys/ (Starts @ 12:50)
*The program will also air on Maryland Public Television June 29th at 8pm.