NIU students wishing to pursue a career in video production can receive first-hand knowledge from an NIU graduate.

Luanne Sweeney will speak to interested students and try to delineate her own formula of success today in DuSable Hall Room 204.

Throughout the years, Sweeney has accumulated extensive experience in all phases of video production. She graduated from NIU in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Later, she received her master’s degree and became a top producer for Falcon Cable TV in California. Sweeney was responsible for producing both local and cable programming in four cities.

More recently, Sweeney served as a producer and director for Great Western Bank in Northridge, California, where she produced informational, promotional, motivational and training video programs.

Today, she is her own business woman. Sweeney is a free-lance producer and director involved with producing corporate videos.

“The promotional video field combines everything we try to stress in the communications department—management, advertising, public relations …,” said Art Doedelein, NIU communications director.

Doedelein said many communication students graduate with the unrealistic goal of working in television and movie production. “Promotional video production is a much more realistic outlet for their degrees,” he said.

Sweeney also will outline ways to promote on a budget. “The people she is promoting are not rich people,” Doedelein said, adding that while Sweeney will bring some of her more glamorous work, the main emphasis will be on budgeting.

“It’s a great way to learn something from a professional who really knows,” Doedelein said.