BOSTON – East Providence-based WPRI-TV Channel 12, Cranston-based WJAR-TV Channel 10 and the Rhode Island International Film Festival were among the winners at the Boston/New England Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 31st annual New England Emmy Awards.
The awards banquet – held Saturday evening at the Boston Marriott Hotel, Copley Place – was sponsored by Subaru of New England. Mass. Attendees included Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, who presented regional news anchor of the year honors to Boston-based WBZ-TV’s Jonathan Elias.
Fox affiliate WPRI Channel 12 won two regional Emmy Awards, both for “Street Stories: Backyard Wiffleball.” The segment was created by John J. Villella Jr., serving as videographer-editor, and Walt Buteau, as reporter. It took top honors in both the News Specialty Report: Sports News category and Photographer, News: No Time Limit.
The Rhode Island International Film Festival and WJAR won the Community/Public Service (PSAs) Campaign award, for a campaign entitled “No Excuses.” The ad campaign comprised two commercials created by William Smyth as director; Miraj Berry as writer-composer and RIIFF’s executive director, George T. Marshall, as producer. The spots featured Trinity Repertory Company actors Richard Donnelly and Phyllis Kaye. They aired on WJAR in July and August.
“This campaign would not have existed without the creativity and commitment of William Smyth and Miraj Berry,” said Marshall, who accepted the award. “The edgy, memorable spots have served to brand the festival and created quite a buzz when they were released last year.” Smyth, he added, “has always had an amazing visual sensibility, and his work continually surprises and inspires me.”
RIIFF previously won the New England Emmy for PSAs in 2003; it also was nominated in 2005. All three spots were created and directed by Smyth, who has been working with Marshall since 1986, when Smyth was a film studies major at Rhode Island College and Marshall was an assistant professor of communications.
NBC affiliate WJAR Channel 10 and Laurel Hill Films LLC shared Documentary Program honors for “Buddy: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Notorious Mayor,” for which Cherry Arnold served as director, writer and producer.
The station took another regional Emmy for breaking news photography: “Composite: Scott Santos,” by WJAR photographer Scott Santos, tied for the prize with “Bonding with Brothers,” by Hartford-based WTIC-TV photographer Mike Piskorski.
The Boston/New England Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Additional information – including the full list of nominees and winners of the 31st annual New England Emmy Awards – is available at boston.emmyonline.org.
WPRI-TV Channel 12 Providence/New Bedford is owned and operated by TVL Broadcasting Inc., a division of Providence-based LIN TV Corp. (NYSE: TVL). To learn more, visit www.wpri.com or www.MyFoxProvidence.com.
The Rhode Island International Film Festival was attended last year by 24,000 people, including 232 filmmakers. To learn more, visit www.film-festival.org.
Cranston-based WJAR-TV/DT Channel 10 is a property of television and newspaper giant Media General Inc. (NYSE: MEG). For additional information, visit www.TurnTo10.com.
