MCC Partners with VA to Shoot a Series of U.S. History Web Shorts

The many partnerships Middlesex Community College enjoys with local businesses and organizations benefit both the students the college serves and the industries Middlesex strengthens with its well-prepared and knowledgeable graduates. This spring semester, MCC’s Communications department collaborated with the VA New England Healthcare System to create a series of short features on New England Veterans and U.S. military history.

Francois De Costerd is MCC’s Media Production Coordinator. Starting in February 2020, De Costerd managed the MCC interns as they produced the VA’s new weekly series of web shorts about U.S. military history narrated by Michael McNamara.

MCC interns researched and gathered content for the scripts that were provided by McNamara before putting together a rough edit using the visuals and narration over music. De Costerd then reviewed the work and completed the shorts with additional sources and motion graphics.

“It’s a win-win collaboration where the VA gets great production services at a reduced fee and our Communications students get a first-rate professional and experiential learning experience,” De Costerd said. “With an episode each week, the production pace was brisk. That initial research and assembly phase is real team work – projects are split up and assigned to each intern, content is shared online, and everyone contributes to the overall production.”

In total, the department produced almost 20 episodes of the series, creating the visual content and the graphics. The MCC interns researched historical content, looked for motion graphics, designed logos and developed animations. The group also completed all of the closed captioning, which is a valuable skill for the industry according to De Costerd.

“All the MCC Media Production interns from Spring 2020 and Summer semesters have contributed to this work and were crucial in the success of this partnership,” he said. “Our VA partners have been thrilled with the quality of the media content we have been producing.”

Dr. Jennifer Bauer, MCC’s Communications Department Chair and Professor, began the partnership with the VA in April 2019. Bauer wanted to develop an in-house production company where students could be mentored through hands-on learning experiences, while serving the community. She hired De Costerd who then took on the project with the VA.

“These partnerships are so essential to the students and the COM program because they provide a real-world environment and production experience that allows students to practice what they have learned in the classroom while building their resume and production reel,” Bauer said. “To see this come to life so quickly is a testament to Francois’ talent and production management skills. Francois is an integral part of the partnership because he provides the professional link between the VA and our student interns.”

The partnership with MCC and the VA continues with new projects, including with the YouTube show SITREP. MCC also ran a photoshoot to help with the VA’s graphic needs.

These experiences allow MCC students to develop important work and practice valuable industry-related skills.

“Working on the VA project was a terrific experience that gave me a better view of the hands-on work for my major,” said James Briere, an MCC Communications student. “I learned so much about the technical process and enjoyed being a part of a professional environment.”

In addition to Briere, the MCC interns who worked on the VA project include Cameron Dawson, Johannes Crueger-Cain, Dalton DeLima, Nassir Mandrafino and Jonathan Zurawski.

MCC students also had the chance to work on video production for the Merrimack Valley Black & Brown Voices group to document their Juneteenth Celebration in Andover. Both Bauer and De Costerd are looking forward to building more partnerships – including with nonprofits and small businesses – and expanding opportunities for students in the Communications program.

“We are excited to expand our services and collaborations with new organizations and businesses between Bedford and Lowell,” De Costerd said. “MCC’s future partnerships in the local media production economy can only strengthen the professional opportunities of our Communications students.”

This fall, MCC is running over 20 Communications courses, with flexible formats including accelerated eight-week classes and online options. MCC offers personalized financial aid counseling, payment plans, flexible course formats and a supportive community to help keep students on track with their goals.

For more information on the Communications department, contact Dr. Jennifer Bauer at BauerJ@middlesex.mass.edu, 781-280-3910, or follow on Twitter @MCCcomdept.

MCC is offering incentives to help students continue their education. One incentive offers 50 percent off a first class to students who were laid-off due to COVID-19. The college is also offering 50 percent off one course to new students in celebration of the college’s 50th anniversary. Qualifying students must register by September 10.

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/save for participation rules.

To register for Fall classes, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

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