Idaho State University Professor Hallaq recognized with 2011 EMPixx award for film on radiation safety

Idaho State University Assistant Professor Tom Hallaq from the James E. Rogers Mass Communication Department was recognized with a Gold EMPixx award for his 2010 production on radiation safety produced in association with ISU’s Technical Safety Office and the Idaho National Laboratory.

Hallaq produced, directed, wrote and edited the video that was designed to instruct workers in laboratories where radiated material is present to avoid excess exposure. The video was shot on location at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies building in Idaho Falls using students in the mass communication department’s television broadcast program to fill other crew positions.

The EMPixx Awards is sponsored by the American Pixel Academy (APA), a coalition of professionals and educators in the field of electronic moving pixels. The APA was founded in 2008 with the goal of connecting creative visual professionals in the pixel media with educators who are giving wings to the next generation of creative professionals.

Comments from the judges for Hallaq's video include, "Good opening that gets the attention. Good casting; believable presenter" and "Good pacing and editing. Does a good job of telling the story."

The video can be viewed online at http://vimeo.com/16809751 or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0QszRb6y5w.

There were 168 pieces selected for the EMPixx Platinum Award, the highest level. An additional 206 entries were named as EMPixx Gold Award winners. Entries came from throughout the United States and Canada. The broad award categories include TV commercials, TV programs, Corporate Videos, Internet Moving Pixels and Independent Films and Videos.

Entries are judged on a standard of excellence, from the professional industry and focus on the individual’s craft skills. Entries scoring 9.0 or higher on a 10-point scale qualify for the Platinum Empixx award. Those scoring 7.0 to 8.9 qualify for the Gold EMPixx Award. Hallaq's production achieved a score of 8.7.

The quality of entries was high with a number of major brands among the works selected for recognition including: Air Force Reserve, AT&T, BMW of North America, Disney-Pixar, Doritos, Dunkin Donuts, Ford Motor Co., HBO – Bill Maher, Home Depot,

John Deere, Kellogg's, Mercedes-Benz, Northrop Grumman, Paramount Pictures, Porsche, St. Louis Cardinals, Stanley Black & Decker, The Coca-Cola Company, Toyota, TransCanada Corporation, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World Resorts, Warner Brothers Entertainment, and Washington & Lee University.

The Empixx Award statuette is unique to the industry.  Whereas most awards in the creative world are "stylized people," The Empixx Award represents the transition from film to pixels.  It is an award that stands out from all the others in the industry – one that symbolizes Moving Pixels.

The Empixx statuette is manufactured by Bruce Fox, inc. whose other work includes The World Series Championship Trophy, The NBA Championship Trophy, The Cable Ace Awards, The Motor Trend Car of the Year Award, and many other high-profile awards.

###