ASHLAND, Kentucky – The riverfront concert stage lights up with live music by national touring acts each July in Ashland, Kentucky. Part of the high-tech show offered by Summer Motion, an outdoor entertainment event, is produced by Ohio University Southern’s electronic media students.

The Summer Motion festival is marking its 30th year. Don Moore, associate professor and director of the Electronic Media Program at the Southern Campus, said the students have been part of the event for the past two decades. 

“Summer Motion is an excellent opportunity for our students to gain hands-on experience in a major entertainment event,” said Moore.

This year, the three-night event held at the Port of Ashland featured Tenth Avenue North, Jordan Feliz, The Marshall Tucker Band with Paul Pace, High Valley and Restless Heart. From July 2 through July 4, tens of thousands of people attend the event, which culminates with a huge Independence Day fireworks display.

Bryan McGlone, a senior from Kenova, West Virginia, served as director of the four-camera live production for the first time this year. He said he appreciates the opportunity to learn live production. McGlone explained the multi-camera view presents the concert from all angles, so festival goers can enjoy the show on the Jumbotron screens that are located on the sides of the stage. 

“It really enhances the concert experience for people to be able to see things from all angles (because of our) different cameras,” McGlone said.

As content creators, electronic media students provide on-the-spot decisions that result in the video images that make up the Summer Motion production, Moore said. “The live video puts our students’ work in front of thousands of people each summer,” he continued. 

The Electronic Media Program provides experiential learning for students through live productions at events for the public and area non-profit agencies. Other hands-on opportunities throughout the year include the annual Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade, Red Cross fundraisers and Chamber of Commerce events.

Here are some photos from the electronic media students’ experience at Summer Motion:

undefinedSouthern Campus electronic media student Bryan McGlone directs the multi-camera Summer Motion live feed, coordinating video shots from the production truck at the Port of Ashland, Kentucky.

undefinedSouthern Campus electronic media students have been part of the Summer Motion concerts for the past 20 years, gaining valuable hands-on, live production experience.

undefinedStudents operate four cameras that are used to provide the live video stream, projected on Jumbotron screens during Summer Motion, a four-day festival held on the banks of the Ohio River at Ashland, Kentucky.

undefinedEven concert goers seated far from the stage get a close-up view, thanks to the live projection video created by students in Ohio University Southern's Electronic Media Program.

undefinedHands-on learning at a live, fast-paced event is one of the extended learning benefits students gain through the Electronic Media Program at Ohio University Southern.

undefinedThousands of concert goers enjoy the live video production, which enhances the entertainment experience no matter where attendees are seated in the riverfront park. *** For more information about the Electronic Media Program at Ohio University Southern, click here or contact Don Moore, program director, at 740-533-4575. To watch a promotional video for the Electronic Media Program, click here. This article was provided by Ohio University Southern.