UA STUDENT DOCUMENTARY WINS FOURTH AWARD

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas journalism graduate students Brandy Cox of Hot Springs and Shelton Jacobs of North Little Rock have won another award for their film "Coming Into Focus, The Story of Beth Gray."

The students received a 2003 AXIEM AWARD for Absolute eXcellence In Electronic Media. The film, produced for local distribution only (below 500,000 population), aired on local stations/affiliates, and never aired or distributed regionally or nationally, won a silver AXIEM award in the television documentary category for the Local B Market area.

The two filmmakers worked on the film in the fall of 2001 and spring of 2002 as part of two graduate level documentary filmmaking courses taught by Professors Larry Foley and Dale Carpenter at the University of Arkansas in the Walter J. Lemke department of journalism. Foley and Carpenter also served as executive producers for the student film.

"Coming Into Focus" was first screened at the Arkansas Union Theater in Fayetteville in October, and later it was shown as part of an opening screening presentation at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. On Nov. 3, 2002, the film was shown as part of a student film showcase statewide on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN).

"Coming Into Focus" tells the story, to date, of Beth Gray, a student at the University of Arkansas. Gray has a unique vision of life because of optic nerve hypoplasia. Although the disease makes her legally blind, she does not let that stop her from pursuing her goals in life. Beth is a music education major who competes in pageants to both showcase her singing voice and to educate people about disabled people.

The 2003 AXIEM AWARD is the fourth honor for the film. In 2002, "Coming Into Focus" earned the Crystal Award of Excellence from The Communicator Awards for both its video and audio competitions. Former UA student Kevin Croxton of Fort Smith composed the film's award-winning musical score. In early 2003, the film received an Award of Excellence from the Videographer Awards video competition.

The video introduction for "Coming Into Focus" can be viewed at UATV's official Web site www.uatvonline.net.

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