Radio, television and film alumni earn Emmy nomination

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh radio, television and film graduates Steve Boettcher ’82 and Mike Trinklein ’82 recently earned an Emmy nomination for their PBS series, Pioneers of Television, which aired last January.

The series, which gave PBS its highest ratings of 2008, provides an intimate perspective on the individuals and programs that made television history.

Pioneers of Television was selected as one of five nominees from a pool of more than 400 in the Best Documentary category.

Receiving all these accolades was BT Media, a production company the two alumni began as students at UW Oshkosh.

“Mike and I met at the University and decided to do production work together,” Boettcher said. “We found an old, unused office with beat-up furniture in the Radio, TV and Film Department and decided to make it our office.”

The two cleaned it, repaired chairs and got carpeting for the room. More than 25 years later, the room is still used by the department’s students.

“I took a photo of it on my cell phone when I was there recently,” he said. “Now it has a sign on it that says Student Office.”

Nomination was a surprise
The nomination was a pleasant surprise for the two, especially because the competition was fierce—including producer George Clooney, who reportedly was not happy to have been snubbed for two guys from Wisconsin.

“I got a call from Mike at 5 a.m. and learned we had been nominated,” said Boettcher, who lives in Mequon. “We did not expect to be in the running, so we were ecstatic.”

Trinklein and Boettcher traveled with their wives to Hollywood in September for the Emmy Awards, and even walked the red carpet.

Though they didn’t win, the two have enough memories for a lifetime.

“The red carpet had more security than an Israeli air base,” Trinklein said. “They shut down five blocks and have five different checkpoints for people in cars and on foot.”

Because the red carpet’s introductory “shout-outs” were reserved for celebrities, Boettcher and Trinklein did not receive an introduction when they exited their limosine.

“I was thinking, ‘We have to get in the photos somehow,’” Trinklein said.

He decided to walk very slowly on the carpet and position himself near any celebrity he could.
“So if you look at some of the AP photos, there I am in the background,” he said, laughing. “It was a little game we played.”

The four Wisconsinites enjoyed rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood’s elite, such as Tom Hanks. They also met many cast members from Disney’s The Suite Life of Zak and Cody.
“It’s my son’s favorite show, so it was fun to interact with them,” said Trinklein, a resident of Cedarburg.

Boettcher said he is not easily star-struck. But he was.

“We rode that party as long as we could,” he said. “Our wives had a great time, too, although I don’t remember ever having such lengthy discussions about what to wear and what transportation we’d take.”

The best part, Boettcher said, was that network executives were approaching them and asking their ideas – instead of the other way around.

Back in the day of back-breaking cameras
Trinklein and Boettcher have a few “old time” memories of their own – like when video cameras were so big that a cart was necessary equipment.

“The Radio-TV-Film Department had a shopping cart we used to do filming around campus,” Trinklein said. “Now that same camera weighs three ounces and there is no film to buy.”

He remembers spending $100 or more on film and development. Internet sites like youtube.com give students valuble experience in the field.

“I wish I could be 21 again and have the instant opportunity to get my work in front of people. I am jealous,” Trinklein said, laughing.

The two began one of the first UW Oshkosh campus television talk shows, which they called “This Week.”

“We did crazy things,” Trinklein said. “It was back when cable TV was new and David Letterman had a morning show. We borrowed some of his ideas, like having a dog play the show’s host. It was fun for us, yet we were developing our craft the entire time.”

Because they live near Milwaukee, both producers get back to the Oshkosh area on a fairly tegular basis, and are regular speakers in radio, television and film classes on campus.

The two say they owe a debt of gratitude to many UW Oshkosh professors for providing a solid foundation in the field, including Bob Jacobs, who Trinklein said convinced him to keep the major when he was thinking about changing.

“He was a character and very inspiring,” Trinklein said.