IN THE CONTROL ROOM: (foreground to background) "CJ" Peterson, Audio Board Operator,
adjusts levels. Jeff Fields, Director, evaluates camera shots. Gena Albanese, Technical Director,
plans the camera transitions. Amy DiStasio, Master Control, prepares to "roll tape."

     Providence Smiles is a dental prevention and treatment program which targets more than 6,000 inner-city children in ten elementary schools in Providence. With its initial 3-year funding period coming to an end, Christine Vallee, Administrative Director of the St. Joseph Pediatric Dental Center, contacted John Cormier, independent producer and TCT Department Chair, with the concept for a video that she could show this fall to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Providence Smiles' principal sponsor.
      Christine's idea was to combine the performing talents of The Flynn Kids, a singing group from Edmund W. Flynn Elementary School, with those of singer/songwriter, Dr. Marty Nager and to show the dental program in action at one of the elementary schools. "It was decided early in the project," says producer John Cormier, "to tape the program in NEIT's Studio "A," since it provided flexible and controlled lighting along with acoustics that would support the vocal performance of the talent." Additional footage of the dental center at Alfred Lima Elementary School would be shot and edited into the final program by Cormier.
      Another factor that greatly contributed to the success of the program was having TCT's Advanced Studio Production class from which to crew the production. Under the supervision of instructor Ken Bagwell, the students filled the studio and control room positions of their choice and went about creating the mood and style of the program. Instructor and recording engineer Jamie Locke selected and positioned the microphones and assisted senior TCT student "CJ" Peterson in adjusting the mixing board for optimal audio quality.
     When the sixteen Flynn Kids arrived from Edmund W. Flynn Elementary School, it was obvious that they were well-versed in the ways of the stage. Creator and director, Abigail Mills, has the theatrical training and expertise that enabled her to turn this troupe of 7 - 11 year old children into performers that quickly adapted to the studio environment, requiring only several takes to record the songs. The Flynn Kids have performed in the White House, First Night in Providence and, last September, sang "Let's Talk About Love" with Celine Dion, to name just a few of their credits.
     The Flynn Kids' songs, "Happy Tooth" and "We're Brushin'," were written and performed by Dr. Marty Nager, a periodontist with offices in Warwick and Narragansett, RI. "Dr. Nager and the Kids worked very well together and it comes across on camera. His guitar accompaniment was also an essential component of the production," says Cormier. The all-important credits listing the students that were part of the crew scrolled over the Doctor's third song, "Providence Smiles."
     Christine was overjoyed with the final piece and has ordered multiple copies that are being sent to potential sponsors and those that have viewed it and requested a copy. Quite unexpectedly, a few weeks ago, Chris had the opportunity to give a personal screening to an individual that was very impressed by the program and insisted on getting a copy to show "his boss." The person making that request was Donald Weaver, M.D., the Assistant Surgeon General of the United States. Roll credits!