New Web site hosts student videos
Hopkins's first online video station, J-Stream, was officially launched today, as a Web site exclusively showcasing films made by members of the Hopkins community.
The aim of the site, at http://jstream.jhu.edu, is to provide "a visual portal for the JHU community," said senior Kathryn Gradowski, vice president of J-Stream.
Members of J-Stream are actively searching for video submissions of all types of work, barring any sexually graphic content. Submissions are open to any student, faculty or staff member at Hopkins.
The site currently hosts student cartoons, videotaped performances by student groups such as OlŽ, Entertainers Club, Throat Culture, and Witness Theater and lectures from the Season for Non-Violence series.
"We want to provide an opportunity to display work for people to watch, which they otherwise would not get to see," says sophomore Daniel Morais, president of J-Stream.
J-Stream utilizes a process of "true streaming," where the viewer is sent pieces of video at a time, which the computer discards after viewing.
As a student-run organization, J-Stream is funded by the Creative Use of Technology Grant from the Digital Media Center.
Funded by an annual gift from a Hopkins alum, the grant has provided J-Stream with a year's supply of server space and videotapes.
The project began in the summer of 2003, when DMC Digital Audio Specialist Joe Reinsel worked on a prototype of an Internet-based, video broadcasting station at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Reinsel and Joan Freedman, directors of the DMC, looked for any students who would be interested in creating something similar for the Hopkins community.
Initiated by Gradowski, a small group of students organized the project and began filming various on-campus events in the fall of 2003.
J-stream was launched as a Beta Web site, signifying that it was still under construction, in late January of 2005.
"Already we've had hundreds of hits. A comedy group from DC has linked our site, so it's not just for the immediate Hopkins community to enjoy. It's great for parents, too," says Morais.
J-Stream hopes to get funding from the SAC by next fall, by which time they expect that the grant will be used up.
"The SAC seems very excited. There is limitless room for expansion with J-Stream," said Morais.
J-stream has been actively focused on finding film and media majors who would be interested in the project, but stress that anyone can get involved.
"I was a little intimidated because I started off without any video experience," says Gradowski.
J-Stream hopes to eventually branch out into regular shows, as well as do live video.
"The Web site is very easy to change. Hopefully we'll be able to get proactive people to cover sports, music, theater, things like that," said Morais.
Morais and Gradowski recommended that students utilize the video workshops and coaching available at the DMC.
"None of this would have been possible without the resources available to us at the DMC," said Gradowski.