Towson University: 13 TU Community Members Win Regional Emmys

Press release from Towson University:

Cody Boteler

July 8, 2021

Oyster beer documentary dubbed a pearl by NATAS

Jena ’11 and Mark ’14 Burchick, Department of Electronic Media and Film (EMF) faculty, won a regional Emmy for their documentary about a local beer brewed
with oysters.

The 8-minute film, “The Local Oyster Stout,” topped the “Chesapeake Heritage - Short Form Content” category for the National
Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
on June 26.

“It was a moment of shock and then immense pride,” Jena says. “It was so great, during
the isolating experience of COVID, to look at my partner and collaborator and know
we’re feeling the exact same thing.”

The married couple dined at Baltimore’s La Cuchara while watching the award ceremony’s
livestream and ordered champagne to celebrate their win.

“Both sets of our parents immediately called us, too; that was really fun to have
that immediate satisfaction,” Mark says. “We weren’t at some fancy gala, but we could
celebrate with our community.”

The Burchicks’ film tells the story of the collaboration between Waverly Brewing Company and restaurant The Local Oyster that produced the stout. The filmmakers also use the documentary to educate viewers
about Chesapeake Bay conservation and how oysters bolster the environment.

“It’s nice to take a topic that has broad interest, like craft beer, for the documentary
and, behind that, it’s a film about conservation, sustainable practices,” Jena says.

Jena is working on a new documentary called “Our Time Kitchen,” about two Baltimore
chefs creating a community kitchen for marginalized groups. Mark will be a studio
art MFA candidate at TU this fall.

“I can’t wait to bring the Emmy to show our students, ‘Hey look, it’s real,’” Jena
says. “To show them it’s possible to succeed in this field.”

The following alumni also won a Capital Emmy:

Emily Tognocchi Cavey ’09, executive producer, WJZ

Gail Bending ‘79, news director, WJZ

Steve Williams ‘98, photographer, WTTG

Ray Rogowski ‘13, investigative producer, WBFF  

Frank Batavick ‘90, executive producer, Maryland Public Television

Philip Cunningham ‘09, producer, Ravens Productions

Jeffrey Atkinson ‘86, director/photographer, Ravens Productions

Imani Muleyyar ‘13, producer/editor, NBC Sports Washington

David M. Lundin ’99, ‘03, executive producer, Washington Nationals

David Michael Berman ‘11, editor, Montgomery Community Media

Jay O’Brien ‘14, executive producer/writer, Ravens Productions

Matt Brevet ‘06, producer/writer, Ravens Productions

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.