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Name: Candace Egan
Title: Professor and director, MCJ Multimedia Production Service
Department: Media, Communications and Journalism (MCJ)
Academic Degrees: B.A., Radio, TV, Cinema; M.A., Interactive Multimedia

How long you have worked at Fresno State: 34 years

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important? In January I completed the “Kings Literacy Initiative Pact” video documentary about the efforts in Kings County to train teachers in science-based reading instruction. The project is notable in two ways. First, it makes the case and showcases how reading literacy can be improved when a community comes together to train and support teachers in methods based on the research of how the mind learns to read. The video is inspiring further initiatives that tackle literacy in the United States. Second, the third year of the documentary’s production was interrupted by COVID-19. Despite the challenges and delays we found a way to finish the documentary and I was able to create a video that tells a compelling story that I am proud of. And this documentary has gotten me a listing in IMDB!

What are you most passionate about in your field and why? I am passionate about how video can be used to inform, educate and inspire people. It is immensely gratifying to see people positively impacted by the videos I’ve helped community organizations create.

What is a memorable moment you had at your job? I will never forget my experience during the fall 2020 semester when my students and I collaborated with theatre department directors Kathleen McKinley and Brad Myers to produce two teleplays. We came up with a way to work during the pandemic and the limitations inspired creative invention and problem-solving that resulted in two highly innovative theatrical videos: “Darkside” and “To Thine Own Self Be True: Gender Sexuality and the Bard.” Because of this experience my students and I expanded our video editing expertise in ways I never anticipated and that have forever changed how I edit and will teach editing.

What is a memorable moment you had in class, and what does that reveal about your teaching style? In the fall of 2019 my class partnered with the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC) to do a remote truck recording of the Theatre Department’s performance of “As You Like It” directed by professor Kathleen McKinley. After days of preparation and hours of set up, 30 minutes before show time a key piece of equipment died in the remote truck. While the truck engineer frantically worked on a solution I came up with a backup plan for recording without the truck. Fortunately, a work around was successful in the truck and we got our recording, though we had to contort ourselves to do so. As a learning experience and example of my teaching style, this situation demonstrated problem-solving under pressure, quick adaption to the conditions you face, and finding a way to accomplish the project. These are all important aspects of being successful in the media production field and were valuable for the students to experience.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time? I am an avid tennis player. I am part of a wonderful and eclectic group of ladies who have played together for years. For any problem or question there is a tennis lady with the knowledge and experience needed to find a solution.

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know? In the 1980s, I was the first woman news videographer at KMPH-TV.

Is there something else you would like to share that was not asked? Two things I love doing are to learn and to create. In spring 2021, I got the chance to combine both on a sabbatical focused on film screenwriting. My goal was to dive deep into screenwriting by writing a feature-length script. In the process I have developed several wonderful friendships with writers at all levels from emerging to Oscar winner. I have learned that screenwriters by nature are generous and encouraging in their support of each other and I am excited to be part of this creative group.