June 12, 2009

VCU TV/HD’s summer lineup includes feature on VCU Medical Center’s NICU

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By Sarah Lepley
VCU Communications and Public Relations

“VCU NICU,” part of VCU TV/HD’s new summer line-up, follows a number of parents, health care professionals and babies through their time in the VCU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
“VCU NICU,” part of VCU TV/HD’s new summer line-up, follows a number of parents, health care professionals and babies through their time in the VCU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Emmy-award winning VCU TV/HD’s newest cinéma vértité documentary showcases how the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center is leading the way in treating big problems in the tiniest people.

“VCU NICU” is part of VCU TV/HD’s new summer line-up, which can be viewed both on the Web and on WCVW-TV.

The documentary follows a number of parents, health care professionals and babies through their time in the VCU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, one of the country’s newest NICUs and one designed based on input from the health care providers.

“What makes the VCU NICU special is the individual rooms for the babies and their families,” said Dan Brazda, executive producer and manager of TV/HD. “The families are part of the treatment.”

And Brazda should know – both his daughters were born prematurely and treated in the VCU NICU, and Brazda said that added a personal investment to the documentary.

“My daughter was 1 pound, 12 ounces when she was born. I’m happy to say she made it quite well and is an awesome 14 year-old,” Brazda said. “My other daughter, born 11 years prior, was 4 pounds, and they had a harder time with her than in 1995. So now it’s 2009, and you cannot imagine what’s changed.”

“VCU NICU” portrays many aspects of the unit, from emergency care to research to mother-and-baby bonding. And the story is told through cinéma vértité style, meaning there is no use of voice over or any effects.

“Cinéma vértité is real reality TV, and I wanted to bring that back alive because it’s been some of the most amazing stuff I’ve seen in my career,” Brazda said. All the VCU TV/HD documentaries are cinéma vértité, not only because Brazda wanted to shoot for an angle not many other college stations were exploring, but he says that, first and foremost, he wants his students to become excellent story tellers.

And it seems to be working. VCU TV/HD was just honored with two regional Emmy awards for the documentaries, “Local Life: Chop Suey,” and “VCU Qatar.”