Digital and visual storytelling senior wins Award of Excellence for video

When Shiloh Reimche first enrolled in Augusta University in the fall of 2019, the goal was to become a physics major. While excelling in several science classes, Reimche eventually did not see it as a future career.

“Actually, I was very close to dropping out,” Reimche said. “I was a physics major, but I didn’t want to drop out because I could not do the courses. I could do physics if I wanted to. I just knew I didn’t want a career in it. I didn’t want to spend my college time studying physics. I didn’t enjoy it.”

During Reimche’s sophomore year, a new opportunity presented itself: the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital and Visual Storytelling in the Department of Art and Design of Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

“I was going to switch to communication and do a certificate in theater,” said Reimche, an Augusta native who graduated from Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in Richmond County. “But I talked to my advisor around the same time, and she mentioned a new major that they were coming up with involving film and theater that was a BFA in Digital and Visual Storytelling. And I was like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that. That would be perfect. I’ll try that out and then maybe not drop out.’”

After taking a few of the courses with professors Melanie Kitchens O’Meara, PhD, Matthew Buzzell and Doug Joiner, Reimche said there was no turning back.

“It just felt like it aligned perfectly, and I’ve really had just an amazing time,” said Reimche, who is now a senior on track to graduate next spring. “I’ve learned a lot of things that I probably wouldn’t have learned in a traditional theater environment. And then I also fell in love with film during the process of it all. I knew I could edit a little bit, but I didn’t realize how much I liked editing with performance.”

A whole new world

The BFA in Digital and Visual Storytelling program at AU prepares students to communicate effectively through versatile, technology-rich skill sets which include a strong theoretical and technical understanding of filmmaking, theater performance, writing, directing and production through multiple forms of expressive media.

Earlier this year, Reimche won an Award of Excellence at the 2024 Georgia Communication Association’s Film Festival for the music video “Scream Queen,” featuring the Los Angeles-based artist Vexagon.

“The music video started last spring. There was a music video production course, which was the first time it’s been done here at AU,” Reimche said, adding it was an intimate class of approximately six students, so there was a lot of hands-on learning. “The class ended up doing two music videos. I really pushed for this video because I really was inspired by the artist. It was a local artist that I liked called Vexagon. Now they’re in LA, but they were here locally.”

Reimche had seen Vexagon perform at Pexcho’s Dime Museum on Sixth Street and Grantski Records on Broad Street in downtown Augusta.

“I really enjoyed their work. They’re a darkwave, goth artist from Augusta,” Reimche said, adding that the artist recently signed with a company called Progress Productions based in Sweden. “Their music is inspired by the 1990s television series ‘Twin Peaks’ by director David Lynch.”

Reimche sent Vexagon a message via Instagram asking if the artist would consider being featured in a music video. To Reimche’s surprise, Vexagon immediately accepted.

“We ended up filming the video in one day and I edited it in about two weeks,” Reimche said, laughing. “I think even though it was very time crunched, it turned out really well.

“‘Scream Queen’ seems to deal with attachment to a loved one that you weren’t really getting along with. I mean, the whole song is about how you shouldn’t have to die for love and you shouldn’t give yourself up,” Reimche continued. “I was inspired by that to include elements of a red yarn in the video as an attachment and this person trying to get away from that by running. In the song it says, ‘Run while you can.’ So they’re dancing around trying to get out of this red string and eventually they do and they dance away.”

Kayla Johnson, a member of Theatre AUG, is the dancer featured in the video, which is filmed in both the TVC Lab and behind the art building at Augusta University, Reimche said.

“I did all the pre-production conceptual planning and I scouted around AU to see what was the best location,” Reimche said. “There was this little alleyway almost, this little drive-through place behind the art building that was just visually nice. And we decided to shoot at night, which was a very bold choice because shooting at nighttime, it doesn’t get dark until 9 or 10 p.m. And that day we learned it was going to rain, so we had to hurry. But I think we did really well.”

The two weeks spent editing the music video was one of Reimche’s favorite parts of the entire process.

“During those two weeks, I found that I really have a knack for it,” Reimche said. “It just works the problem-solving part of my brain, and I connect very well with it.”

Originally, Reimche considered becoming a film actor, but changed direction after this experience with the music video.

“Now, I would rather do acting as a side project, like a passion project,” Reimche said. “And I want editing to be my main career. And then cinematography, directing and all that also be kind of side work that I do for fun.”

Producing excellence

After the music video was posted to YouTube, Buzzell encouraged Reimche to enter the video in the 2024 Georgia Communication Association Film Festival.

The Georgia Communication Association was established in 1931 for the purpose of fostering interest in communication studies, arts and education.

“The GCA has a film section where there are documentaries and narrative films,” Reimche said. “And then there is micro-work, which is what I applied for. That includes PSAs, music videos and experimental films. This year, I received the Award of Excellence in micro-work.”

It was an honor accepting the award earlier this year at the festival held at Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia, Reimche said.

“To have people recognize what I’ve done so far at AU and also recognize what AU students have done here was very nice,” Reimche said. “And to watch people view it live as opposed to seeing a viewing count on YouTube was surreal.”

Now, as a digital and visual storytelling major, Reimche believes there is a clear path forward.

“Growing up, I’ve always connected to music videos and music. Music is a big part of my life. Now, I’m able to visualize it, so I would love to do more music videos,” Reimche said. “It is so cool to see something that I didn’t think I could make a career out of, be something that I’m very passionate in now. It’s my future.”