

“Our client, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, came to us with a challenge: show their cargo agents how the airlines moved packages from point A to point B worldwide,” recalls Kalas, professor of communication at County College of Morris. The solution: follow a Sam Spade character tracking a package from New York to Casablanca.
“We shot the film in black and white, hinted about what was in the package and turned it into a contest. The cargo agent who guessed the package contents would win a trip around the world.” Participants had to watch the videos repeatedly for hints. The film increased the airline’s cargo tonnage by millions of dollars.
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“It was like making a full-length movie except we did it all in a 10-minute video,” says Kalas. The film won a CLIO, ORCA (Dutch award) and International Television Association Award. Kalas wrote and produced the video on a modest $300,000 budget.
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He says his entry into broadcasting was inspired by the times. “I’m part of the first TV generation. I remember the tiny square box in the big cabinet and wanted to be part of it.”
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First he served in the Air Force and was discharged near San Francisco. “Coincidentally, that was the location of one of the largest broadcasting schools in the world – San Francisco State University,” he recalls.
“To work in the entertainment industry is not working; it’s fun. And not doing the same thing every day – perhaps that’s the most exciting thing.”
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After decades in the field, he decided to take on a new challenge: teaching what he learned to a new generation of broadcast professionals.
“I found that I enjoyed teaching more than being in the field,” says Kalas. “I love seeing students get excited about what they do. Knowing you’ve really reached someone is gratifying. I don’t know of any other job where you come home at night and feel as much a sense of accomplishment as that. I love working with students. They keep me going. I have not had a bad
day in 14 years.”
day in 14 years.”