By AMANDA KRAUSE
RCTV, the Ramapo Music Club and WRPR have teamed up to create a new video web series, “Tune In.”
Beginning November 2015, RCTV posted their first Tune In episode with Ramapo rock band Ambary Lake. Four episodes have been released since, garnering hundreds of views and bringing attention to the variety of music present on campus.
The Mind Behind Tune In
Tune In was created by Ramapo sophomore Paul Iannelli, current RCTV publicist and Tune In producer. After noticing an abundance of skilled musicians performing at open mic nights and various concerts, Iannelli felt it was time for on-campus musicians and filmmakers to bring their talents together.
“I just felt like there is so much musical talent on campus, I thought it would be cool to have a show where this talent can reach a broader audience,” said Iannelli. “I wanted to create a show that can give [musicians] something for their resume, that shows ‘this is what I sound like,’ and expose themselves to the internet in a new way.”
Iannelli began working with RCTV almost immediately after starting his freshman year of college. He originally joined the TV club as a way to further pursue a lifelong interest in film and to stay involved with filmmaking opportunities on campus, but soon realized the club’s need to collaborate with other campus organizations to reach a larger audience.
“I first brought [the idea of ‘Tune In’] up with RCTV because we didn’t have a show yet this semester, so everyone was on board,” said Iannelli. “Then I brought the idea up to the Ramapo Music Club and WRPR because I knew RCTV has the film stuff down, thats what we know how to do, but recording music and stuff like that, contacting musicians, thats not really what we know how to do. Once I got in contact with these other clubs, it really came together.”
The Featured Students
Each episode of Tune In features a musician or group with ties to Ramapo. Featured bands such as Third Floor, the Austin Marcelo Group, and solo artist Ehiorobo are all comprised entirely of Ramapo Students.
Ramapo students also make up the entire crew behind the scenes, holding responsibility for filming, recording music, and creating interview questions.
“The entire time we were setting up and shooting the video, we were all laughing and having a really good time,” says Nagee Diaz-Corpening, singer of Ambary Lake, on his experience being on Tune In. “The student crew was professional and friendly; it was great.”
Local, off-campus bands are not entirely excluded from the series. Tune In’s sole requirement is that at least one member of the featured band must be a Ramapo student, just to have a “minor Ramapo connection,” said Iannelli.
Both Ambary Lake and A Boy Named John are perfect examples, featuring only two or three Ramapo students in their respective bands.
Videos range from 10-15 minutes and include two original songs from starring bands, split apart by an interview session that allows band members to ask each other questions about their shared music.
One of the most unique aspects of Tune In is the various filming locations throughout the series. First proposed by RMC president Emma Monroe, freedom is given to the featured band to film wherever on campus they desire.
“The only challenge is sometimes there’s not enough outlets in a certain place and we have a lot of lights and audio equipment,” said Iannelli. “We need a bunch of outlets and a lot of room, which sometimes there’s not, but that happens rarely. This campus is pretty good with hosting [Tune In].”
Future Tune In episodes will include a cappella group 4gotteN suitcase and notorious metal band Roshambo. Though both episodes are still in the works, Iannelli and his RCTV partners are accepting emailed, new artist suggestions for the show at RCTV69@gmail.com.
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