Amidst the stacks of DVDs and hundreds of TV channels lies a unique TV station: Georgia State TV, better known as “GSTV.” Viewers can tune into anything from The Panther Report to Captain Planet to SGA Live. You don’t even have to live on campus to enjoy what GSTV has to offer. It streams live online and many of its shows are on YouTube.
“Dorms” is the newest, up-and-coming GSTV show, but for some reason no one knows about it—yet.
“Dorms” is a comedy about seven new students living and learning in the dorms, trying to make friends but making plenty of mistakes along the way, according to co-producer and co-director Andrew Mixon, a Film and Video major at Georgia State.
Co-creators, Andrew Mixon and Katie Adkins, work together to write, produce, and shoot the original comedy show, “Dorms.”
Samantha Osburn plays bubbly, quirky Mariah on “Dorms.” The Anthropology major said the show has brought her a “new sense of inclusion.”
“It’s really fun to just play [on set],” said Mariah. “It’s a great way to collaborate with students on a project, and really be a part of something.”
Talking to and living with his roommates inspired Mixon and co-creator Katie Adkins to create a TV show based on those experiences. They wanted to present a show that would strike a chord with students because it would reflect their lives and their new experiences while attending college.
The project started in Summer 2011 when Mixon and Adkins were working on “Sophomores,” another GSTV original. The first episode of “Dorms” aired in August 2012. The first season is now four episodes in, and, despite a few setbacks, ideas are already being tossed around for episode five.
Osburn said even if you’re not on the set of “Dorms,” you can feel included in the Georgia State community by watching it or by seeing someone you know on screen or in the credits.
The show is making a sense of community a reality on campus. Participating in organizations like GSTV can help students make friends, network and get a more fulfilling experience at Georgia State.
GSTV airs a handful of new shows, according to General Manager Deranta Avaloy. Among them are “Workin’ Fine” and “Milan” (two original animated features), SGA Live, and Live in the Courtyard. Avaloy is in his second year at the station and explained that it’s doing quite well.
“We’ve been nominated for two Atlanta CBI (College Broadcasters, Inc.) awards: best student media website and best TV special broadcast,” Avaloy said.
GSTV was nominated for their successful “Hunger Games Mall Tour” feature this past summer.
Perhaps with more shows like “Dorms,” GSTV will build even more potential as a station.
Catch “Dorms” at 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. all week long on GSTVonline.org, or check out the show’s YouTube channel, DormsGSTV.
