One of the first things you notice when you walk into professor Terence Dollard’s office is the “Citizen Kane” movie poster on his wall. Dimly lit with a small table lamp providing the room’s only light, the movie poster, along with other superhero posters, clearly identify him as a man with a passion for storytelling.
Dollard, 41, teaches broadcasting courses in television production and videography and editing. He said his favorite course to teach is Advanced Videography and Editing because the entire class works on a video production which allows them to be creative and use the camera in different ways.
He joined the faculty in the fall of 2008 after a job offer brought him to UNCP. Before coming to Pembroke he was an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College’s Department of Television and Radio. He said the best thing he likes about working at UNCP is the people because he enjoys helping them achieve their goals.
A love of telling stories inspired him to study telecommunications. His interest in broadcasting was piqued when he took his high school’s television production course. For a senior-year English project, he produced a mockumentary about a lounge singer.
“It’s amazing where you can go with a camera,” he said.
He’s always wanted to parlay his broadcasting education into the entertainment industry. However, making a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster is not his style. He’s more interested in the “smaller, character driven, independent films.”
He points to 2004’s “Sideways” as the kind of film he could see himself making.
“It’s a fun story about people who aren’t vampires or teenagers driving fast cars taking their shirts off,” he said.
During his senior year in college he produced a short-lived variety show called “Act 1.” Modeled after “Saturday Night Live,” the show included standup and sketch comedy, as well as dramatic scenes and music performances.
Dollard has also spent some time in front of the camera. A self-described “terrible actor,” he’s appeared in student productions whenever he’s been needed.
On his off time, Dollard enjoys playing the bass guitar, a hobby he picked up during the 1980s. His weapon of choice is a 1983 Fender Precision Bass.
“The whole advantage of owning a house compared to renting is that at midnight if I want to play bass, I can,” he said. “That’s been the cause of my hearing loss for nearly 20 something years.”
He was inspired to pick up the bass after watching his favorite band, The Who, play on a VHS tape.
In 2001 he got to meet John Entwistle, The Who’s bass player, about a year before Entwistle died. The meeting almost didn’t happen, though.
After a show at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City, Dollard and his girlfriend were allowed backstage for a meet and greet. Just as they were about to be let in the room to meet Entwistle, the band’s manager announced there would be no more visitors.
Dollard’s girlfriend then pleaded their case to the sound technician. Fortunately for them, the guy put them on the guest list for the next day’s meet and greet.
After seeing two shows the next day, they got to go backstage where they took a photo with Entwistle, who then signed Dollard’s bass pickguard.
Although Dollard doesn’t have the photo at hand, he describes it this way: “It’s me rockin’ a major mullet and the late, great John Entwistle holding the pickguard of my bass, signing it,” he said.
Dollard knows he wants to continue to teach or do something creative.
“I don’t ever want to go back to working for a living, and when you teach and do something creative it’s not exactly work,” he said.
The beginning of fall is the prime time to get outdoors and be active. It’s not too hot or too cold. This feature would highlight 5 local spots that provide recreation.
The article would highlight Fayetteville’s Cape Fear River Trail, Smith Lake, ZipQuest and Lake Rim Park. Lillington’s Raven Rock State Park would also be included. These places offer fishing, hiking, mountain biking and more. Information would include activities that each attraction offers as well as how much it would cost and the location.
The audience for this article would be people who enjoy the outdoors and folks who’d like to find alternate ways to exercise.
This feature story would be a music review of Grizzly Bear’s new album, “Shields.” Grizzly Bear is an indie-rock band from Brooklyn.
The review would include where the band recorded the album and where their inspiration came from. I would also contrast the new album with their previous releases. A rating of the album would conclude the article.
The audience for this article would be music fans.
This feature would be about Arian Foster’s vegan diet. Since Foster tweeted he switched to one, much has been said on if it will be beneficial. Foster is the star running back for the NFL’s Houston Texans. The article would delve into why Foster started the vegan diet, and if it has affected his performance.
I would find out how many calories Foster burns in a day and if a vegan diet adequatetly resupplies athletes with the proper nutrition. Information from an interview with Foster would be included. I would get professional opinions from nutritionists regarding athletes on vegan diets.
The audience for this article would be foodies and football fans.
This feature idea would be about Dogfish Head, Delaware’s first brewpub.
I would interview Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head’s founder and president. I would also tour the brewpub itself. Documentation on why and how craft brews are popular right now would be included.
The audience for this article would be people who can enjoy a drink and like a story about a person building a successful business from the ground up.
When you’re walking around UNCP’s campus during Pembroke Day, it’s easy to get caught up in the spectacle of it all. The characters. The performers. The vendors. It’s easy to get distracted by all these things and miss some interesting groups.
One such group is the Association of American Indian Faculty and Staff (AAIFS). Organized in April 2010, AAIFS helps American Indian students succeed in their college careers. AAIFS’s chairwoman, Dr. Olivia Oxendine, said the organization developed “because there was a need” for it. One of the many goals of AAIFS is to raise money and scholarships.
The organization has humble beginnings. At first, it began as a lunch-in group, but then the organization started developing bilaws. Now, they meet monthly in the faculty dining room. Oxendine said the university has seen a growth of American Indian faculty and staff members in the last five or six years.
This year was the first year AAIFS had a tent at Pembroke Day. Oxendine said they had “a really good turnout.”
Unlike other students, 20-year-old sophomore Justin Thomas has always known what he’s wanted to do with his life. He didn’t have to question himself or struggle with deciding what to major in like many other students do. From the time he was in sixth grade, Thomas knew he wanted to attend Carolina and study journalism.
A recent trip to check out Carolina’s campus further inspired him to work hard so he can transfer to UNC. The vibrant campus and the whole Chapel Hill atmosphere was overwhelming, he said, his face lighting up. He said Carolina is where he “feels at home.”
Thomas credits his parents with pushing him to succeed. When he was 15 years old, his father saw a picture of him bare-chested that he’d posted to a social networking site. Knowing future employers might come across the picture, his father told him to delete it. At the time, Thomas thought his father’s reaction was extreme, but now he understands why his father did it.
Thomas chose to study journalism due to his love of sports, especially college football. This summer he completed an internship at ESPN 730, a Charlotte radio station. He covered the Charlotte Bobcats, helped run the board and was an on-air personality known as “Intern Justin.” He learned a valuable lesson working for the radio station.
“Getting in the door is easy, but making the stay permanent is when the true journey begins,” he said.
When he’s not busy with school or working at Einstein Bros. Bagels, he likes to “eat, workout and watch sports.” This isn’t surprising considering he’s dressed in athletic gear, planning to go to the gym after our interview. He also writes for UNCP’s student newspaper and maintains a sports blog to exercise and sharpen his journalism skills.
Thomas knows exactly what he wants to do and where he wants to be. After graduation, he plans to have his own radio show in Charlotte. This is dependent, however, on whether the Bobcats do well. If Charlotte can produce, he’ll stay.
“Hopefully if the Bobcats get good, I won’t have to go nowhere,” he said.
He recognizes he has big dreams, but he also knows he has the determination to succeed.
“It’s easy not to do the little things every day,” he said. “But if you continue to do it, you’ll see results.” And Justin Thomas is all about results.
