Go Green Bay: Packers and student workers are winners on Monday night

Nearly a dozen UW-Green Bay students, most majoring in communication with an interest in video production, were the winners of a good night’s work for ESPN at Lambeau Field Monday night (Dec. 7). The Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, enjoyed the 27-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Media specialist Mike Schmitt of UW-Green Bay Media Services, who also teaches courses in media and video production, assembled the crew for Kwok Productions of Irvine, Calif., which worked the game for ESPN. Eight of the students got prized sideline passes and were on the field in support of cameras and camera people, responsible for cable pulls, Steadicam assist, and tear down. Three others were upstairs as production assistants.

“I try to get them experience beyond the classroom and this is one of the highest profile events they can work from a viewership standpoint,” says Schmitt, a recent Founders Award winner. “I received positive feedback on the experience from the students.”

ESPN’s total staff for a Monday Night Football game such as the Dec. 7 Packers/Ravens contest numbers as many as 200 people. 

Members of the UW-Green Bay contingent included Ashley Kaster and Brian Long, Steadicam assistants; Julia Noll, Sarah Bielejeski and Kayla Detert, production assistants; Melissa Dobbs (pictured below on main camera assistance); and Jeff Meyer, Justin Lecher, Paul Heim, Matt Williams, Jaron Jaeger (top photo) and Andy Dockendorff, field crew. Heim is an LTE with Telecommunications, Engineering and Media Services (TEAM), and Williams works full time with TEAM.