The logos for MU Players and Manhattan Media Network.
BILLY WALKER / COURTESY
Victoria Schiller, Senior Writer
Manhattan Media Network will work in collaboration with the MU Players this spring as they set the stage for their upcoming musical comedy, The Addams Family. The Quadrangle sat down with members from both Players and Media Network to discuss their upcoming idea of creating a trailer for the musical.
Sage Clarke, a senior majoring in communication is secretary and treasurer of Manhattan Media Network. She told The Quadrangle about how this collaboration came to life and what to look forward to in coming weeks.
“We got involved with them [Players] by pitching the idea of making a trailer,” Clarke said. “We were just really grateful to be able to collaborate with any other clubs and help the Players be able to showcase their creative works. As a new club, our goal is to gain more exposure and be able to collaborate, because I feel like that’s where a lot of our projects come from. Combining different areas and creating a video together to bring exposure to both our clubs, showcasing what they have going on this semester. The trailer is going to be introducing Players and we’re [Media Network] going to be facilitating the recording.”
Clarke went on to mention the role of Manhattan Media Network’s president and co-founder, Billy Walker, in this specific collaboration. Walker, a junior communication major with a concentration in media production and a minor in theater, is also an active member of the Players production team. He told The Quadrangle about the initial decision to create a trailer.
Walker revealed that a class discussion with the Players director, Martin Marchitto, inspired the process because of a past showing of The Addams Family that also had a trailer.
“We’re still figuring it out,” Walker said. “In any other class, you go around and introduce yourself. I said I was a media production concentration and he [Marchitto] asked if I meant camera work. I said “yes, and I also edit and have experience with trailers for when the album class did Abbey Road two years ago.” That same day we [Media Network] were having our club meeting and I put it [the trailer idea] in our list of things to go over. We have an entire team of people now who could help make this a thing and that’s how it happened.”
Walker further discussed what he was most looking forward to with this new project, as well as what’s to come from this partnership.
“I’m just excited to bring a new type of marketing that Players hasn’t done yet,” Walker said. “I think the trailer will be a lot more effective and interesting to see if people talk about it around campus. That’s what I’m most excited to see, the reviews of it and how many people it reaches. We’re entering a new digital age and everyone is still heavily relying on posters, but I don’t think they’re the most effective way of getting points across or making awareness about a certain club.”
Manhattan Media Network’s other co-founder, Colin Ratner, a senior studying communication with a concentration in media production and a minor in marketing, shared his excitement for the new club, its collaborations and events that are in the works.
“I’m so excited to see everyone do more,” Ratner said. “We had our first meeting last week and the amount of excitement and ideas were flowing left and right. We have so much on this campus now that we can film and it’s up to us to take advantage of it.”
Ratner continued on to discuss how the club plans to use social media to its advantage in the coming months.
“That’s what I’m most looking forward to, seeing where everyone goes and how high we can reach,” Ratner said. “I’m excited to see if we can go viral too, Instagram reels are our main focus. That’s where colleges are able to connect with students and characters. If we can create a brand that is an embodiment of a bunch of authentic students, we can get as many eyes on Manhattan in the most authentic and real way.”
Ratner also elaborated on his intent for this specific Players collaboration.
“My goal at the end of this is to get more people to see Players,” Ratner said. “I know how much effort and time and how fulfilling Players is, so I want people to know that this is a fun club…It’s one of those opportunities where we have the resources, let’s use them. Worst comes to worst, then we scrap it and we build from there.”
The Media Network’s trailer for The Addams Family is currently in the works and has a planned release date closer to the performance.