Rich Preuss, B.S. Telecommunication 1996, is director of the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.” Preuss and his team’s phenomenal multimedia efforts for each show are chronicled in “A Symphony of Graphics and Movement” published in the Directors Guild of America’s DGA Quarterly.

Preuss seamlessly integrates four giant screens on set into each program. They feature fast-moving original animation, video interviews, news clips, charts and maps that illustrate topics in the show.

“The screens are constantly changing to a literally endless range of anything that the team can dream up,” said Preuss. ”The screen is a character…and the intent is blocking in a way to highlight Hasan, the screens and their relationship to one another.”

The innovative use of the screens has been highly rewarding for Preuss. He credits his experience with variety television on helping him envision the possibility of making every show look different.

“When you consider the entire history of television and the countless programs that have been made over many generations, to be able to direct a show that is considered unique is an incredible opportunity and a real rarity,” he said. “He adds that part of the fun with directing ‘Patriot Act’ since the first episode is that we were able to make our own rules and establish our visual language. And, then we look to break those rules and continue to evolve with every episode.”

Preuss has won numerous Emmy and DGA Awards, including the 2017 Creative Arts Emmy Award as executive producer of that year’s Oscars online program.

Posted: December 19, 2019
Category: Alumni News, College News
Tagged as: Rich Preuss