April’s Producer of the Month has spent a lot of time in a lot of different roles at the Sun Prairie Media Center. Jamison Rabbitt has been affiliated with SPMC for more than ten years, a run highlighted by his impressive run as host of the weekly movie review program “Reel Reviews” for over 500 consecutive weeks. Rabbitt has also hosted and produced several shows at SPMC’s low power FM radio station WLSP, and is currently one of the inaugural announcers for the Sun Prairie West Wolves football team.

Rabbitt’s start in community media was a family affair: “All three of my children have been members of the KIDS4 program that the Sun Prairie Media Center is well known for,” says Rabbitt. “That affiliation eventually led me to joining as a volunteer in 2014.”

Rabbitt has worked with the radio station WLSP-LP since its inception and has produced several radio series including “Inside My Mind,” “Pop Culture Time Capsule,” “SitCommentary,” and his personal favorite, “It’s Time for 5.” “One of my great joys was hosting ‘It’s Time for 5’,” says Rabbitt. “This was a top-five countdown show with my oldest son Logan that was awarded a Best in Show from Wisconsin Community Media. The program gave me an amazing opportunity to bond in a new way with my son.”

Rabbitt has also done significant work on the television side of the Sun Prairie Media Center. Now in its 10th year, “Reel Reviews” is undoubtedly his signature program. “Reel Reviews is a weekly show in which I and a cohost review every major film that is released in theaters or streaming the previous week. We have recorded more than 500 shows and reviewed over 2,000 films in that time. It started when former SPMC director Jeff Robbins heard that I hosted audio podcasts reviewing movies. The rest is history.”

Outside of his work at the Sun Prairie Media Center, Rabbitt plays Santa Claus each holiday season, both for the city and for bookings by private residents. “Viewers of ‘Reel Reviews’ witness my transformation each year. The SPMC helps add to the joy of the season by recording the holiday parade and tree lighting alongside other city events that Santa Claus appears at. Recent years have found Santa joining Mark Gonwa on the radio for interviews as well.”

Jamison says it is a lot of work to be so immersed in your local media center, but he encourages anyone who is passionate about a topic, or someone who simply has an idea about a show to reach out to your local media center. “You don’t have to come in with all the technical know-how,” says Rabbitt. “That can be taught and assisted by staff. It’s an incredible opportunity that can lead to things you wouldn’t imagine. It’s so simple and yet so rewarding.”

Rabbitt and his son Logan celebrate their “Best in Show” win for their radio series “It’s Time for 5”

Rabbitt and Steve Sabatke have been the announcers for Sun Prairie West Wolves football since the team’s inception.

Santa Claus (right) hosts SPMC’s movie review program Reel Reviews during the holiday season.

The Wisconsin Community Media Producer of the Month for January is a multi-talented travel writer, TV host, author, public speaker, and “coffee roaster.” Dannelle Gay got started producing and hosting shows at the Sun Prairie Media Center after an appearance on their radio station WLSP-LP when Dannelle was promoting her book “100 Things to Do in Wisconsin Before You Die.” “After chatting for two hours on-air - with both of us having a LOT more to say, Bill [Baker] gave me a tour of the Sun Prairie Media Center and I was hooked!” remembers Dannelle. “I often do videos as a travel creative for social media, website articles, etc., and the idea of making a LONGER series that could help promote destinations in the Midwest? Too fun to resist! I was a member before I left the station.”

Dannelle currently is the CEO of Traveling Cheesehead Productions and produces “The Traveling Cheesehead Visits” TV show. “For my travel TV show, I scout location partnerships, create rough scripts to feature what is fun and trending in that destination, visit and get video, b-roll, and stills, and am the on-air talent. I have done everything from wearing an ugly Christmas sweater and talking about Janesville's Flannel Fest to wearing a T-shirt and rolling around on the World's Largest Ball of Paint in Anderson, Indiana.”

Dannelle has two primary pieces of advice for people either just getting in to the Community Media world or those who have been in it for decades: “Just. Do. It. I see people so wrapped up in perfection that they never ‘do the thing.’ If you are new? Guess what? Your first show may suck. The next one is a little better, and the one after that even better. You will find a rhythm and get better at things like shot angle, editing, things to say or ask, etc. The second bit of advice I have is: Have. Fun. I am going to be riding a parade float at Mardi Gras in Louisiana this February and you bet I will be sporting the Packers Jersey and faithful cheese hat and maybe even a blinking football necklace! I know to have cameras up to get crowd video, will have one on me with my special kind of insanity on air, and will sneak in still photos.”

Dannelle also has a new book coming out in May. “On May 20th, World War II Dispatches to Madison: Letters Home From an Army Air Corps Soldier is out. It is on pre-sale now, everywhere from Amazon to Barnes and Noble online. It is about my father-in-law's time in the service. He was in the European theater, stationed at Mendalshem Royal Air Force Base in England. The book covers his time at multiple bases across the U.S. during training, his time in Europe, and after D-Day, while he waited for his discharge. My FAVORITE thing about this book? We partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project - so I will turn my entire profit over to them. Dad was hesitant to go on the Badger Honor Flight because he said ‘Other guys deserve it more.’ So his story will benefit those same people, the soldiers who he felt were more deserving.”

If your station would like to air Dannelle’s shows, you can reach out to her at DannelleGay@gmail.com.