???You know that little old adage about reaching for the stars? Well now's your chance...literally.
???Through a collaborative effort with The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences, mtvU is offering a monumental opportunity and the chance of a lifetime for one collegiate journalist to travel to Los Angeles and cover the fashion and frenzy of the Red Carpet and Backstage festivities at the 81st Annual Academy Awards.
???It's no secret that the collegiate branch of MTV has been offering extraordinary opportunities to collegians for years in the music/directorial industries, but the '09 Oscar student correspondent search comes as a bit of a surprise. Spots covering the biggest stage for film aren't just handed out, even from an entertainment juggernaut largely associated with music and college life.
???VP of University Relations for mtvU Carlos Dimarco enthusiastically commented on securing such an opportunity and what exactly they're looking for in a correspondent.
??? "It's always been MTV's interest to open doors for college students who were really talented and ambitious," Dimarco said. "This opportunity came up with working with the academy and we went after it."
???As the deal has been set, the real work now lies in the hands of the students. Since this contest deals explicitly with broadcast journalism, all applicants are being required to send in a two-minute video of them displaying their charm and broadcast journalism skills, all the while explaining why they are the best man, or woman for the job. Along with each anchor, each submission requires one videographer.
???Looking to spruce up the monotony and annoyance of current award show interviewers (here's looking at you Billy Bush), mtvU is setting a medium to save the pre-show.
???After the videos have been submitted to mtvU and the appropriate forms have been filled at www.mtvu.com, the academy and mtvU will select the top 10 submissions and will then place them online to be voted on by none other than the community of college students.
???"It's really the personality and the individual's ability to connect with the celebrity and get them to pay attention," Dimarco said, in reference to what mtvU and the academy are generally looking for.
???While Dimarco claims that there is no specific set of criteria that's going to make an applicant more qualified than another, he does state that this opportunity should be met with an eager excitement and all-out dedication.
???"If this is something you'd like to go for, you have to go at it with everything you have. You need to ask yourself 'how am I going to make myself stand out in a credible, meaningful way,'" Dimarco said.
???When it all comes down to it, you just need to believe in yourself and show the world that you're as special as you feel. Dimarco and mtvU know how much potential is out there. Do them a favor and shine.
???"It's been our privilege at mtvU to identify and uncover amazing, amazing talent among our college talent. We're just happy to be working with such a creative audience," Dimarco said.
???Here's your chance to prove yourself. Go be Hilarie Burton. Go shine with the stars. Just watch out for Alec Baldwin; apparently he just hates it when hosts ask him dumb questions.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
