Courtesy of Dana HambyIt’s not quite Reading Rainbow and it’s not quite the Twilight Zone. But freshman Michael Wiseman’s Dream Project on WUTV, Washington University’s only student-run television station, will illustrate and narrate dreams that students describe to him.
“Last year I was talking to a friend about crazy dreams and we thought it would be really cool to put crazy dreams on a TV show and that’s basically how it started,” said Wiseman.
Students can submit dreams they have to Wiseman; he will then break it up into how he wants the dream to be depicted and then tells his illustrators what to draw. The pictures will be aired during the show a few minutes at a time as Wiseman narrates the dream.
“I think it’s an intriguing idea,” said senior Ben Nanes, WUTV co-general manager. “It could make a great show. I know I have some pretty unusual dreams sometimes and I imagine it’s the same for other people too.”
Wiseman hopes each show will last 15-30 minutes, depending on how much material he receives and how long it takes to tell the story. He can also show multiple dreams, all anonymous, in any given episode.
“Even if you want your name shown I decided against it or there could be terrible consequences to others,” he said.
Since this is not a live show, WUTV will put the Dream Project into its library that plays other prerecorded shows at different times throughout the day.
“If [Wiseman] delivers an episode a week, we’ll figure out a way to get it a time slot,” said Nanes. “That’s how most of our shows get played. We’re here to help people make shows and get them on the air.”
Nanes hopes to soon have a schedule of what’s playing at all times posted online.
Right now Wiseman is in the process of recruiting illustrators and creating and posting fliers to build publicity. He has even asked the art school and psychology department, whom he thinks could benefit from the show, to make announcements to students.
Sophomore Dana Hamby is one illustrator who has joined the Dream Project.
“Mike introduced the concept of the show-students submitting their whacked-out dreams to be illustrated and narrated on the air,” said Hamby. “Lately I’ve been trying to do my own illustrating for a kids’ book about a boy who dreams across several pages. I think I’m more excited about it than he is.”
Hamby also said that they will start out drawing their own dreams since others will likely be hesitant to do so at first.
“Hopefully, following the effort and humor we put into these first couple episodes, students will actually want to see their favorite dreams illustrated and narrated,” he said.
Wiseman hopes to start airing as soon as he gets enough material.
To submit a dream, students and members of the community can e-mail Wiseman at [email protected].