In 2019, PATV and PS1 went through a nonprofit merger, bringing some of the long time mission points of Public Access Television under the banner of the Iowa City community arts organization, Public Space One, with the creation of their new Media Arts Co-op program.
Two individuals were in the unique position to span this organizational restructuring, starting an internship under PATV and finishing it with PS1 at the Meda Arts Co-op. After the onset of the CV19 global pandemic, this internship shifted once again and Danny and Luke demonstrated their resilience in going with the flow.
This flow has led to a final presentation of their work which will take place online via the Media Arts Co-op Facebook page on Mon, June 1st at 7p., followed by a conversation and Q & A with Luke & Danny.
about Luke & Danny:
Luke Johnson grew up in a small town in rural northwest Iowa. He has always immersed himself in animation and a lifelong passion for trains and other moving vehicles such as construction vehicles machines, race cars, tugboats, and airplanes. Because Luke likes trains so much, he has read about them found out more about their history and global details.
To help fuel this passion, Luke attended the Have Dreams Film Camp in Evanston, IL; Exceptional Minds Studios Summer Workshops in animation and visual effects in Los Angeles, CA; and Film Scene’s Adult Animation Camp in Iowa City, IA.
After high school graduation and a gap year, Luke was accepted into the University of Iowa’s REACH Program. In addition to his REACH curriculum, Luke takes traditional UI courses in animation, graphics design, drawing, and 3-D design in the colleges of cinema arts, theatre arts, and general art.
Luke enjoys his vibrant REACH internships working in video and animation with Public Space One and Iowa City Channel 4.
In his off-time, Luke can usually be found researching for his many animated shows-in-progress, learning new technology, and practicing his art for the wholesome, entertaining children’s shows he plans to produce someday.
Daniel McGregor-Huyer grew up in the small town of Mahtomedi, Minnesota. From a very young age, Daniel was very immersed in the world of film. Back in High School, he would sneak into the school theater after class to watch movies on a big projector screen. His primary influences were Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Martin Scorsese, and Christopher Nolan. He watched many films from the small school projects from legendary directors to revolutionary and groundbreaking masterpieces. His top 5 favorite films include Fantasia, The Irishman, Inception, Lincoln, and Citizen Kane. These films “create life in a beautiful way that can stimulate the mind and inspire you to create worlds that no one would want to leave.”
After getting denied by colleges, Daniel turned his attention to the UI REACH program. There, he developed friendships and relationships that he says “will last a lifetime.” Despite limitations, he continued to challenge himself to go above and beyond as a student leader in the REACH program and eventually becoming the founding member and first president of the UI REACH student council. He took cinematic arts classes at the university that involved the art of film production, analysis, history, and film criticism to expand his knowledge and understanding of the film world.
Daniel took internships at art organization Public Space One, government-sanctioned Iowa City Channel 4, and the now-extinct PATV Iowa City. He considers the internships “to help develop his skills behind the camera.” He also says that it “made him fall in love with Iowa City even more.”
Away from his schooling, Daniel can be found listening to varieties of music. From classical music to classic rock to hip-hop to polka (yes, you heard that correctly). He also plays Ukelele, Bass, and Piano. He is also a huge sports fan. His favorite teams are the Minnesota Vikings, LA Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Denver Broncos, LA Lakers, and Minnesota Wild. His favorite sports players are Von Miller, Larry Fitzgerald, Cody Bellinger, Kobe Bryant, Harrison Smith, and Devin Dubnyk. He loves making promotional videos for the UI REACH program by going to numerous events to record and interact with students, mentors, and staff. “UI REACH has given so much to me, I think it was best to return the favor.”
He will continue to strive for a career in film and keep moving forward to the next destination.