The Keene State Media Productions (KSMP) club is an organization that does photography, filmmaking, puts on film festivals and does other similar activities. Three students on the club’s executive board spoke about their purpose on the Keene State campus.
Senior Heather Gibb, KSMP’s President, explained how during club meetings, they “work with equipment to make little short films.” When asked how this year is going so far, Gibb said, “We definitely have a lot of passionate people joining,” especially because of the new first-year members.
As president, Gibb said she runs the meetings and creates agendas for the club. She said her role is “pretty fun,” and also spoke more on her journey through the club.
She said she joined the club as a first-year and met one of her best friends through the club, because they didn’t have any classes together but had similar interests. She mentioned that during her sophomore year she was the treasurer, and her first two years she and her friends made films for the KSMP film festivals.
Gibb encouraged other students to join because they are likely to “make friends with similar interests.” She said there are a lot of film majors in KSMP, but the club has been reaching out to more graphic design majors recently. However, all majors are welcome, especially if they want to let their creative side flow and meet people like them, according to Gibb.
Vice President senior Cameron Rockwell had similar insights on KSMP. He described it as “the media creation club on campus.”
“We’re open arms for anyone regardless of major that wants to create any kind of media, whether that’s video, photography, audio or other kind of media to come, and we do activities and equipment demos to show people the equipment that we have and help them use it,” said Rockwell.
In his role as vice president, Rockwell said he helps Gibb “run the club smoothly.”
“I help plan the events every week and I manage our equipment closet, where we have an insane amount of equipment that any of our general members can borrow, no matter what grade, major or classes they’re in,” he said.
He also described how easy it is to rent equipment, and how all anyone has to do is fill out a Google form. Rockwell said that one form of equipment the club has is “an entire podcasting kit with a pretty nice podcasting board,” and people often “do a little podcast with their friends and have fun.” He said things like this are a nice way to make something fun that is not for a class.
A benefit to being in KSMP that Rockwell said he experienced was learning how to use certain equipment before he even took a class that used the equipment.
Lastly, he said that, “We’re really here for the fun of the club.”
Sophomore Amanda Atchue, who is the social media manager for KSMP, said, “We are a club that helps filmmakers in a way and also gives opportunities to other people with other majors who still are very much interested in film.”
Similarly to Gibb and Rockwell, she said, “We have a closet of fun equipment that everyone has full access to. The cage only has equipment out for three or four days, while we can have a week, so you have more time to use your creativity.”
“I think we’re a really fun bunch of people and we can be silly sometimes,” said Atchue. “It’s good to be around other creative people if you want to get your noggin rolling on creativity.”
When explaining her role as social media manager, Atchue said, “I just focus on the Instagram and make sure everyone’s having a fun time. I take pictures throughout the meetings, and spread the word of our fun club.”
Atchue said the KSMP meetings so far this year have been “pretty good.”
“We’ve got a lot of ideas going,” she said. “I feel like we are a really big friend group and we really get along and it’s really, really fun.”
Alex Perry can be contacted at
alex.perry@keene.edu
