WVU Holiday Fairy Tale 2010
Website
Objectives
Communicate good wishes for the 2010 holiday season from President James Clements and WVU. Thank individuals for their contributions of work, community service, research, academic endeavors, and financial investments. Build affinity to the University with the youth through senior citizens in a storytelling fashion. Entertain viewers in a fashion that is enjoyable yet bears the message of the mission of the University.
Description
According to Associate VP Tricia Petty, “Originally we thought this piece should constantly look like a place you want to navigate—stroll through, fly through, run like crazy through… like George in It’s a Wonderful Life. Every scene should have something you want to reach out and touch… Like that big old glisteny moon.”
Chris Martin, Vice-President for University Relations sums up the alchemy for the project with these words, “I think the recipe we want is 3 parts Victorian Christmas diorama; 1 part Currier and Ives pop-up holiday card on steroids; one part Russian Easter egg fantasy looking glass… and just a dash of Monty Python. Heavy on the childlike awe and wonder, light on the self-conscious cool cartooning.”
VP Martin states, “This should be a meta-fantasy world—part real, part pretend, part somewhere in between. It’s the somewhere in between where all the magic happens.”
In the midst of all that wonderment, WVU also wanted to thank everyone for their work and support but also review the mission of WVU and focus on some of the ideas coming out of the 2020 plan.
The staff at WVU University Relations collaborated on this project. Designers Forest Conroy, Brad Stalnaker, and Adam Johnson worked alongside each other to create the look and feel of the video and collateral. First steps included brainstorming, deciding on a visual aesthetic, and creating digital storyboards. Colleen DeHart and Morgan Copeland wrote the poetry. Hannah Maxwell narrated the fairy tale. Wayne Rowand, a WVU alumnus, was the lyrical guitarist brought in especially for this project. Chris Martin, Tricia Petty, and Becky Lofstead art directed. Details include even the correct bird calls in the sounds.
Audience
Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, future students, donors, and those affiliated with WVU
Measure of success
Over 17,469 viewers have watched the video as of March 4, 2011.