ALTON – Jules Kitchingman has seen some of the most fabulous sights around the world. For the next several weeks, he’ll turn his eyes on the Riverbender Community Center.
The 22-year-old senior in Mass Communication and Education studies at Principia College will spend July and August interning at the RBCC working to produce a promotional video to capture the spirit of the Center’s programming and events.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
“I’ve been tasked with coming up with a marketing piece that highlights the programs and events the Center holds and speaks to all of its audiences,” said Kitchingman. “I’ll be collecting video footage, doing interviews, photography, capturing as many memorable moments as I can and recapping the essence of what the Center does in a video format.”
Kitchingman is a native of Melbourne, Australia. He came to the United States as part of a high school student exchange program and attended Principia Upper School in St. Louis. He returned to Australia and graduated from high school, then chose to attend college at Principia, located atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.
“It’s a bit different from Australia,” Kitchingman said. “But I do like it here. I just wish it was close to a beach. I really do miss the beach.”
Kitchingman has traveled overseas on numerous occasions and has several experiences from which to draw. He has toured England, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, and recently returned from a three-week school sponsored visit to Iceland.
“Europe has some of the most fantastic scenery and architecture in the world,” he said. “But it’s more about the people than the places. This is another opportunity to meet some enjoyable people. I’ve quite enjoyed meeting some of the people at Riverbender -- getting to know them, getting a feel for what the organization is about. And Alton is a cute little town. I quite enjoy it with all the cute little shops and cafes downtown. There are some very unique places.”
RBCC Executive Director Jeff Allsman said the internship opportunity stems from a continuing relationship with John Lane, Career Coordinator in the Internship and Career Development Office at Principia.
“I was speaking with John about another possible internship this fall and as we brainstormed, he suggested the possibility of acquiring Jules for the summer,” Allsman said. “When I had the opportunity to speak to Jules directly, I was really impressed with his work samples and his enthusiasm for the project. He was very quick to grasp what we want to accomplish with the promotional video and seemed very excited about the opportunity. I’m looking forward to seeing his finished product.”
To give Kitchingman an opportunity to broaden his experience into news and entertainment, he will also be involved in filming and producing news and event videos for Riverbender.com.
“I’ll be filming different events and stories in the community, putting together some short videos,” Kitchingman said. “I’m hoping to present them in an interesting way, making them enjoyable and informative for the community to see.”
As for the Center’s project, Kitchingman said his goal is to create a product that is effective in the world of internet and social media.
“Everything seems to be quick and visual,” he said. “I’m looking for fantastic photos and video that grabs your attention. I want stunning visuals that tell you what’s going on in a fast, exciting way. Everyone wants to receive information quickly and I think I have an eye for capturing moments. My passion is filming, editing and putting together a final product that’s exciting and informative. My goal is to produce something exciting that expands the Center’s audience and gets people interested in coming down and experiencing the Center.”
More like this:
