In a collegiate world where Facebook and Twitter reign supreme attaining YouTube stardom is a major milestone for any undergrad. Junior Jeff Loveness has achieved that and more.
While some Internet video virtuosos are after mere view counts on YouTube Loveness is out to accomplish real goals with his love and talent for short video comedy.
He was recently crowned the winner of a Sallie Mae’s Tuition Tales Video Contest and a $5000 scholarship from the lender. He submitted a 30-second video on how to save money for college tuition costs.
Loveness’s video titled ” ‘Save’ Money punned on the contest’s prompt. In the video, Loveness rescued a single penny from the path of an oncoming car, encouraging students to save money one penny at a time.”
When asked how he got involved in the Sallie Mae contest Loveness nonchalantly replied “I do these things from time to time.”
The film studies and media production major also participated and was a finalist in a similar contest his freshman year at Pepperdine through Dell computer company. He placed second in the national Dell “Frame of Reference” Independent Film Contest.
In addition to the Sallie Mae scholarship and a trip to the 2008 Telluride Film Festival through the Dell contest “I won a set of free tires freshman year he laughed, and an iPod shuffle.”
Of the rewards from this most recent contest Loveness said “I just wanted to throw my hat in and give it a shot. This time it paid off.”
Loveness has been interested in video production since an early age.
“My brother Clint and I would make films together when I was about five years old he recollected. They were James Bond-type movies. Well James Bond without the boozing and womanizing.”
From imitation James Bond flicks the budding actor-director moved to involvement with his Montgomery Creek Calif. high school theater department as a teenager.
In high school he discovered a talent for writing and acting comedy.
Loveness’s comedies are known for their snappy witty dialogues that poke fun at pop culture obsessions.
His sketch comedy YouTube channel Prussian Sunsets is best known for parodies of rap artist Soulja Boy the vampire romance book series “Twilight” and most recently the highly edited X-Men movie. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine Leaked Footage” has more than 400000 views and a four-and-a-half out of five star rating.
Along with senior Seth Allison this fall Loveness will be running “The Randumb Show a sketch comedy television show. It will air on the Pepperdine Channel, channel 26, on Tuesdays at 9 and 11 p.m., with a possible late night Saturday show pending. Loveness will spearhead this comedic endeavor as head writer and producer as well as actor.
As for the big picture, this virtuoso says he would love to use his Pepperdine education as a tool in a potential professional writing and performing career.
I would love to just throw my hat onto the coat rack of comedy and see if I can offer anything new.”
Loveness quoted screenwriter and director Preston Sturges about his love for comedy:
“‘There’s a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that’s all some people have? It isn’t much but it is better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.'”