"A Day in the Life" to Debut at MAAC's Preseason Awards Show
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. - An idea that grew out of a brainstorming session seeking to identify new and creative ways to showcase the outstanding overall quality of the student-athletes who play basketball in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has blossomed into a showcase video presentation which is part of the league's exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
"A Day in the Life" is a 12-minute long video that gives viewers an insight into a typical day of a basketball student-athlete, and features one student-athlete from each of the MAAC's 10 institutions. It is a centerpiece in "The MAAC Experience," a 600-square foot exhibit in the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame annually attracts upwards of 150,000 visitors.
"We were looking for the best opportunity to present our basketball student-athletes, and our discussion evolved into producing a video that we would feature at our Hall of Fame exhibit," said Commissioner Richard J. Ensor. "Our student-athletes personify the high quality of academics and athletics that our institutions are committed to, and these young men and women in ‘A Day in the Life' exemplify the type of student-athletes we are proud to have compete in the MAAC."
The selection of the 10 student-athletes to appear in the video was completed before the conclusion of the 2010-11 basketball season, and the process resulted in an elite group that features many of the MAAC's rising stars. Included in the group are four former MAAC "Rookies of the Year."
Beckerle Productions, which had previously done work for the MAAC among its roster of clients, and has a broad base of video production experience in professional and college athletics as well as corporate and broadcast television, began working on the project at the 2011 MAAC Basketball Championships in March. With two days of shooting at the tournament, more than 12 hours of footage was accumulated.
The process intensified in the spring when Joe Beckerle, the company's principal, and his crew visited all 10 institutions to film the student-athletes on campus. Filming took place in May and June, and was wrapped up in early July, with Beckerle and crew racking up over 1800 miles on the road while traveling to MAAC campuses. Beckerle's crew spent a half day on each campus with the student-athletes. The entire project was shot in high definition, using Panasonic DVC Pro HD cameras.
Once shooting was concluded, the arduous task of editing began. The editing process required "hundreds of hours" according to Beckerle, identifying the best footage to help build the story. Utilizing the Final Cut Pro editing system, revisions to the production were reviewed regularly by members of the MAAC staff until the video was completed.
"This kind of project is much more like fun, than work," Beckerle said. "I have an affinity toward college athletics and student-athletes, and meeting these 10 individuals, and spending time with them on their campuses, was very rewarding for me."
What makes "A Day in the Life" so special are the stars of the production, the 10 student-athletes. While they are a diverse group, they are bound by a common bond as basketball student-athletes in the MAAC, sharing many similar experiences on their campuses throughout the Northeast. Each accepts the responsibility of being a student-athlete, shares a love for their sport, and embraces the development and utilization of skills that will lead to success, such as teamwork and time management.
Student-athletes featured in "A Day in the Life" include:
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Jamie Ruttle
Canisius
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Sophomore
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Burlington, Ont./Notre Dame
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2010-11 MAAC Rookie of the Year
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Derek Needham Fairfield
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Junior
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Dolton, Ill./De La Salle
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2010-11 All-MAAC First Team selection
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Kyle Smyth
Iona
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Junior
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River Edge, N.J./Don Bosco
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2009-10 MAAC All-Rookie Team
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Justin Drummond Loyola
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Sophomore
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Upper Marlboro, Md./ Riverdale Baptist
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2010-11 MAAC All-Rookie Team
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Maggie Blair
Manhattan
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Junior
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Briarcliff, N.Y./Briarcliff
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2010-11 MAAC All-Academic Team
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Leanne Ockenden
Marist
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Sophomore
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Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy
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Played in all 34 games; shot .396 from 3-pt.
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Kayla Stroman
Niagara
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Sophomore
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Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy
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2009-10 MAAC Rookie of the Year
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Daniel Stewart
Rider
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Sophomore
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Philadelphia, Pa./ Neumann-Goretti
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2010-11 MAAC Rookie of the Year
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Teresa Manigrasso
Saint Peter's
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Sophomore
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Atlantic Highlands, N.J./
Saint John Vianney
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2nd on SPC in scoring, assists, steals as frosh
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OD Anosike
Siena
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Junior
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Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys
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Siena's 2010-11 Most Improved Player
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The debut of "The MAAC Experience" exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coincides with the league moving its men's and women's basketball championships to the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA for the next three seasons (2012-14). The 2012 MAAC Championships, featuring men's and women's teams from all 10 institutions, will be March 1-5.