Two students run production company, win Telly Award

By NICOLE SOSZYNSKI

Two area college students students produce, record, direct and edit live videos of band concerts in their own video production company.

Ginny Austin, senior communication media studies major at NIU, and Lonnie Iske, a junior mass communication major at Rock Valley College, have shared a business partnership in Vixen Productions for three years.

Austin and Iske started the business after recording and editing a DVD for the band Cat Fight. The band hired and paid the company to create a video.

According to the Web site, Vixen Productions clients include Kelsey Wild, Salvia, Cross Fade and Legion.

Iske said the name was created to show women’s success in the industry.

“Basically, the film industry is [a] dominating field of men,” Iske said. “We picked [the name] Vixen Productions to represent the women in the field.”

The company has also produced commercials for companies such as Monroe Clinic and Austin’s Saloon, Iske said.

“We do a lot of promotion stuff for local bands,” Austin said.

Vixen Productions filmed Dot Dot Dot’s audition video for the reality television show Next Great American Band, Austin said.

Vixen Productions also received a bronze Telly Award. According to the Web site tellyawards.com, the Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional, cable television commercials, programs and video film productions that are created for the Internet.

Dot Dot Dot’s live music video was submitted and evaluated for consideration of the award, Austin said.

“It was kind of cool, since we are still in college and to be recognized to compete with others in the industry,” Austin said.

One of the awards received by Vixen Productions was dedicated to Women’s History Month. The contest was for Rock Valley.

Austin said they made a 60-second video to inspire women. The video included still photographs on a digital pan of them working on the music video for Dot Dot Dot.

Iske said she would like to do this in the future.

“I completely love it,” she said. “I think it would be an amazing opportunity to do it as a career.”

To view videos and learn more information visit www.myspace.com/chickswithcameras or www.vixenproductions.net