Jamie Enser oversees theatrical and event production at the Center for the Arts. She has expanded the Center's production services to serve the entire university. Enser launched the first major television initiative called "Music Is Art Live @ The Center" which featured over 200 local artists over 41 episodes. She also developed a video production group that has won numerous awards and now collaborates with various university departments to produce television programs, videos, and web content. Enser values collaboration and ensuring students gain experience through internships and training in production.

1. programVolume 13, Issue 7
15th Anniversary
Inside:
Jump Rhythm Jazz Project
The Jazz at Lincoln Center
Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Moscow Festival Ballet in
Swan Lake
2009-2010 SEASON

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The first major television initiative was Music Is Art Live @ The Center, a program
highlighting both musical and visual artists. Enser produced 41 episodes that pro-
vided exposure to more than 200 local artists. The program is still broadcast on
WNED’s Thinkbright-TV “MIA was the catalyst for what we’re doing now.” The
CFA Video Production group has won numerous awards for its productions.
Enser’s television background is extensive. After studying communications at Ithaca
College, Enser went to Atlanta, where she worked as a video journalist for CNN.
She was also offered a job during the preparations for the 1996 Summer Olympics
production - but decided to pursue something different: the opportunity to work at
the children’s television network Nickelodeon. Starting as a freelancer and quickly
becoming a Production Manager, she worked on twenty-seven different series, from
sitcoms to game shows to concerts. She worked on popular programs like All That,
Kenan and Kel, Figure It Out, The Kids Choice Awards and Gullah Gullah Island.
Her job at Nickelodeon took her from Orlando and New York City to Los Angeles.
While she enjoyed her time at Nickelodeon, Enser said “We moved back to Buffalo
for a better quality of life.” She always felt that UB had great potential and in 2002
was happy for the opportunity to work at the Center and become engaged in the-
atrical production. “The experience of presenting a show and our direct connection
to a live audience is amazing” says Enser.
The Center provides an educational environment of great value and distinction,
and Enser makes sure that opportunities are created that enrich students through
lectures and labs, internships, student employment and summer program activities.
To date, more than 150 students have participated in production internships and
hundreds of children and adults from the community have taken part in the Explore
the Arts and Technical Theatre Workshop summer programs. Center production
staff also trains students to work as technicians. “We are very dedicated in ensuring
that students are educated in a postive, professional and team-oriented environ-
ment. Having students from the Department of Theatre and Dance directly
involved in the Center’s presentations enhances their educational experience and
also provides skilled graduates.” Enser also teaches a course in television production
management through the Department of Media Study.
Enser says she enjoys the variety of her work most of all. “One day we might be pre-
senting a Liza Minnelli concert, or interviewing a UB professor about her cancer
research, and the next day we are mentoring a student in our field which we are all
passionate about.” Enser says tackling so many diverse projects takes a team
approach. “We collaborate with each other at the Center and with our university
colleagues. We have been successful because we’ve developed good relationships
and embraced change. This has really helped the Center grow and become a
stronger asset for the university.”
Behind the Scenesby Abbey Wyse
Jamie Enser
Jamie Enser oversees theatrical and
event production at the Center,
ensuring a smooth behind the
scenes operation. “The Center sup-
ports a wide range of activity and
we make certain that our perform-
ances, academic productions and
rental activity are well served with a
constant attention to quality and
superior production values.” She
attributes much of the success of the
production operation to a dedicated
team of professionals. “Our staff is
entrusted to create successful events
and execute their work in a highly
professional manner - entirely
focused on our mission”.
Many of the initiatives that Enser
has launched, succeed due to expe-
rience and a collaborative staff who
embrace projects that benefit the
Center and University. In recent years she expanded the expertise of her group to
offer technical services university-wide through a production services initiative.
“The Center has grown a great deal, we produce everything from small events to the
Distinguished Speaker Series and the President’s Community Address downtown.
The event’s lighting design, sound and staging is all created by the Center. It has also
expanded opportunities for our technical students to gain valuable experience and
it’s blossomed into successful new partnerships.”
Several years ago, Enser knew that video production was another way to serve those
partners. She developed a staff of directors, producers, videographers, editors and
interns who work with various UB entities to develop television programs, market-
ing and informational videos and web materials. “I was hired in this position
because of my television background,” Enser said. “Now we’re collaborating with
many UB departments such as the President’s Office, the Division of Athletics,
University Communications, Admissions and the Schools of Pharmacy and
Engineering.”