In the crazy world of web video, it’s often hard to get your work to the top of the heap. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that a video made by Fresh Cut’s own Dorothee Royal-Hedinger and Robert Aquilar (of Bulletproof Films) was featured on YouTube’s homepage on Earth Day. In a short 24-hours, the video was viewed by more than 130,000 people! The video, “Carrying Power: Solar Energy On the Go” is about Noon Solar, a company that makes stylish solar-paneled bags.

Our host Paris takes a last look at the script while Hassan tests the camera.

The “Up To Speed” set, with webcams, computers, teleprompter and lots of cords to trip on!

Right after taping their pilot episode for Chicago PBS station WTTW, the boys of “IL-Informed” pose with a girl and some boy from Fresh Cut. We all sang “Kumbaya” afterwards. The show was hilarious. Watch it when it airs the week of May 4th.

From left: Sandy Marshall, Paris Schutz, Hassan Ali, Dorothee Royal-Hedinger and Justin Kaufmann.

As part of WTTW’s new show, “IL-Informed,” comedian Sandy Marshall plays a hard-hitting, ethics-bending investigative reporter, aptly named Hassan Ali.

Way back when, show producer Paris Schutz and Fresh Cut’s own Hassan Ali were talking about the initial concept for the show. Hassan pitched the idea of a Walter Jacobson-type reporter who’ll stop at nothing to get his story (and is also a complete ass).

So the show named the character in Hassan’s honor. Seeing as he probably won’t have a child, this is just what Hassan needs to preserve his legacy.

The Fresh Cut team crashes the Illinois College Press Association conference where Hassan’s video “Covering A Tragedy: NIU” was screened.

From left: Mark Boyer, Dorothee Royal-Hedinger, Hassan S. Ali and the editor in chief of NIU’s Northern Star, John Puterbaugh.