Story by Laura Podgornik
Staff Writer

Could you use an extra 22,000 dollars? That’s the amount UWS senior Ryan Leer has accumulated in the past year and a half by creating, producing, and directing videos and submitting them to various contests.  

Among his recent winnings, Leer, a video production major, was awarded 10,000 dollars for his winning entry in a Quiznos Torpedo commercial contest.

“They were looking for a submission that showed how a customer could enjoy their new sandwich, the Torpedo. The contests are typically about creating user generated content to help market a product or company” Leer explains, “For my submission, we came up with the idea of a ‘Torpedo launcher’.” The minute-long clip shows a young man receiving and testing his ‘Torpedo launcher’ with his younger brother.

The clip was deemed the winner after receiving the highest number of votes on YouTube. Leer credits much of his success on voting-based contests to the students of UWS.

“I’ve established a great number of contacts while at school and am able to keep up with people via Facebook.  I’m sure everyone gets sick of me hassling them to vote and I thank them all for taking the time out of their day to help me out. I really couldn’t have won without them.”

Leer is also celebrating his recent win by inviting all who voted to a party where he will be picking up the tab.
What does Ryan do with his extra 22,000 dollars exactly? A great deal of it actually goes back into his video production work.

“I’ve bought better computer software, new cameras, and a new microphone system. These components aren’t cheap but I feel that the better the equipment, the better the video.”

His effort has definitely paid off but Leer will be taking a break from contests this semester while he focuses on school and prepares for graduation this spring.  

Students can find Ryan’s videos on YouTube under the names InfiniGpictures and MTKASTChamps.