Outstanding work honored from record-breaking pool of entries
(Wellington, Florida--May 14, 2008) Aaron Wells of Silver Beach Productions, Inc. and Suzanne L. Niedland of BusEye Films, LLC have been honored for their production What is Art? at the 28th Annual Telly Awards with a Silver Telly, the award’s highest honor.
Wells directed, Niedland produced, and both filmed the promotional documentary. The program was shot for the opening of art gallery NOVA 535 in St. Petersburg, FL, where the filmmakers explored the question “What is art?” through interviews with area artists featured at the facility’s grand opening along with venue owner Michael S. Novilla. Original music was provided by celebrated hip-hop DJ and recording artist DJ Zeph and Wide Hive Records. This is Niedland’s first Telly Award; it’s Wells’ 14th and second Silver Telly.
The Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions as well as work created for the Web. Since 1978, their mission has been to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting and supporting creativity. The 28th Annual Telly Awards received a record 14,362 entries from all 50 states, 30 countries, and 5 continents.
For over a quarter century, the Telly statuette has been a symbol of creative excellence. Silver winners are awarded a Silver Telly statuette, the highest honor. Designed by RS Owens, the same firm that makes the Oscar and Emmy, the Telly statuette weighs more than 4.5 pounds.
A prestigious judging panel of over 40 accomplished industry professionals, each a past winner of a Silver Telly, judged the competition, upholding the historical standard of excellence that Telly represents. Judges evaluated entries to recognize distinction in creative work; entries do not compete against each other, rather entries are judged against a high standard of merit. Less than 10% of entries are chosen as winners of a Silver Telly. Other outstanding work is awarded a Bronze Telly.
“I am again incredibly impressed with the remarkable level of achievement evident in the diverse pool of entries,” notes Telly Chairman Richard Friley, an Emmy and Telly Award winner himself. “It is a true accomplishment for all of the winners to be recognized from such an outstanding body of work.”
This is the second project on which Niedland and Wells have collaborated. Their first, Opportunity Knocks starring Tristan Rogers, won a CINE Golden Eagle. They currently have several other projects in development.
Other 2008 Silver Telly winners include American Movie Classics, Black Entertainment TV, Comedy Central, FX Networks, Harpo Studios, HGTV, Marshall Field’s, Microsoft, Nickelodeon, Nike, Starz Entertainment Group, The History Channel, TV Guide Networks, Turner Classic Movies, and WE! Women’s Entertainment. For a complete list of Silver Telly winners for the 28th Annual competition, please visit
www.tellyawards.com.
What is Art? can be viewed online at
www.nova535.com/vg_video_whatisart.html. Additional information about Silver Beach Productions can be found at
www.SilverBeachProductions.com and BusEye Films at
www.BusEyeFilms.com. Nova 535 can be contacted via their web site at
www.Nova535.com.
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