Alpha Channel Selections HERE

Missed Alpha Channel? Check out selections HERE on our YouTube channel.

Happy Holidays

Enjoy the break everyone! Happy holidays and Happy New Year!

UPDATE: Alpha Channel

Hey everyone! Below is the updated program for Friday's screening of Alpha Channel. The program will be as follows:

Arms of an Angel (portfolio class intro)



Cole Santiago – Sign Here for Death
Sergio Camargo – Chance
Daniel Arena – Blue Man Group Promo
Dave Brooks – Lust
Fredy Soberanis - Torrent

FA12 Graduate Reels

We will also be announcing the winners. We still have tickets available for Friday's screening, so please GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: http://fa12alphachannel.eventbrite.com

Short Film Contest - 1st place is 15k!

Hey guys, here's a great opportunity. Enter your original short film via Youtube link and collect votes for your short - one grand prize winner will win 15k, three category winners will win $5,000, the overall second place winner will win $3,000 and overall third place winner win receive $2,000.

Click below for details and how to enter:
http://woisio.com/ultimate_challenge?utm_source=SFM&utm_medium=EBlast&utm_campaign=Filmmakers

6 Filmmaking tips from Wes Anderson

Almost everyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with Wes Anderson's films. There's something captivating about his meticulous attention to the smallest details, from his set designs to his methodical cinematography. Everything in a Wes Anderson movie is carefully crafted with an artisan touch, which is refreshing in a world full of many sequels, prequels, and Saw movies; he is an auteur in the truest sense. Perhaps the most important aspect of Anderson's films are their ability to tell a story that is universally relatable; his films often focus on a broken or unorthodox family circle, unrequited love, or the search of a parental figure. Anderson's last film, Moonrise Kingdom, captured the innocence of first love so well that the feeling of nostalgia was overwhelming even after I left the theater. If you haven't seen his films, pick one up at our library on the 2nd floor right away (Rushmore or The Royal Tenenbaums is a good place to start).

With that said, here are six filmmaking tips from Anderson himself. If you scroll to the bottom, you will find more filmmaking tips from filmmaking greats like Scorcese, Kubrick, and more. Enjoy!


6 Filmmaking Tips from Wes Anderson

- Melissa

December Releases

As you already know, the holiday season is upon us and to filmmakers & cinephiles, that only means one thing: Oscar season. Let's take a look at the releases this month and possible Oscar contenders:

Les Misérables
Director: Tom Hopper
Release Date: Dec. 25

Based on the famous musical of the same name, Les Misérables stars an ensemble cast: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter and more. There's already buzz that the film will be considered for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Jackman), Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song (for "Suddenly"). Considering that the film took the unusual route of letting the actors sing live than lip synching to a recording of their voices, a couple of Oscar nods are expected.


The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Director: Peter Jackson
Release Date: Dec. 14

The movie promises an epic quest plot and the beautiful cinematography we expect from LOTR movies. It's expected that the film will receive a nod for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Freeman), Best Supporting Actor (McKellan, Armitage, Serkis), Best Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett), Cinematography and pretty much every technical award possible.


Zero Dark Thirty
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Release Date: Dec. 19 (limited)

It shouldn't be too surprising that the film, about the hunt for and eventual capture of Osama bin Laden, is getting Oscar buzz; Bigelow surprised many when she snagged Best Director and Best Pircture for The Hurt Locker, beating out Avatar. It isn't far-fetched to think she could pull out another Oscar victory.




Amour
Director: Michael Haneke
Release Date: Dec. 19 (limited)

Although there hasn't been much promotion for the film, you can almost be sure this film will take home an Oscar or two. Haneke, who's past films include The White Ribbon and Funny Games (US remake), is known for his bleak and disturbing style; add that to Amour's plot about an elderly man caring for his wife as her life comes to an end, and you already know this has potential for being a big tear jerker. The film has already won the coveted Palme d'Or and major acclaim from critics, so definitely expect this to be an Oscar contender.


Django Unchained
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Release Date: Dec. 25

It's a Quentin Tarantino film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Enough said.








What are you looking forward to seeing in theaters this month?

UHE Looking for Content

-->

http://www.uhetv.com

Hey every one this is information coming straight out of career services, If you want to get your work seen and start getting it out there check out the following:

"UHETV, a new global entertainment network is looking for brand new, well-produced, HD content such as independent artist videos, webisodes that run thirty minutes to an hour,
short/full-length feature films and movie trailers. We would like to run this content as a promotion for 90 days at no cost to you in order to measure our audience’s response.

Urban Hollywood Entertainment has obtained national distribution through Dish Network on demand and Simply Me Distribution.  The UHE TV channel provides 24 hour access to all kinds of television and film content. Our present viewership is 4.3 million per month.
Urban Hollywood is a brand that will always provide quality, dedication, exposure, and professionalism. The executives of Urban Hollywood have created what most networks don’t have all in one which is diverse programming for a globally diverse audience.  The content that is broadcast by Urban Hollywood consists of Reality Shows, HD Films, Sports, Travel, Radio and more in development."

There will be a conference call with more information and how to submit your films @ 1pm today, Here is the info:
CONTACT: SHIRLEY BURRIS
CONFERENCE# 605.475.4350
ACCESS CODE: 2713282

Extended Building Hours

Alpha Channel Fall 2012

Stay tuned to the blog for upcoming details and updates.

Thoughts about NYC from a Film Blogger

Editor of Firstshowing.net, Alex Billington, has published a refreshing love letter to the city we live in. Often, I hear of students who want to switch coasts in order to pursue their film career. The decision to work in the film industry is a personal one, whether we believe it or not. Long hours, freelance work, and tight deadlines force us to make life decisions that would be unheard of in most other professions. The experience of living in LA for three years professed that type of lifestyle (and the way they do business) was not for me. LA is car commuting city and I hate driving. The two sided nature of producers and studio executives hindered my growth as a filmmaker. As counter point, I still have several friends at Dreamworks and ILM who enjoy the abundance of networking opportunities with the saturated film business around them. Even our own instructor, Johnny Woods, has defected to the left coast and is doing fine. Both NY and LA are not for everyone, but I have to give props to those who love the city who will drive by in a cab on a rainy day and flip you off at the same time. I <3 br="br" nyc="nyc">

http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/why-i-moved-to-new-york-city-hollywood-behind-the-times/

Filmmaking Contest with Kevin Spacey and Willem Dafoe

Attention all Writers: here's a chance to write a script starring Hollywood actors! Jameson First Shot is sponsoring a contest and all you need is a script no longer than 7 pages - the grand prize winner will have their script turned into a short film starring Kevin Spacey, Willem Dafoe and Dana Brunetti. Unfortunately you must be 25 years or older to enter, but if you are, check out the rules and conditions HERE.

Moving Past Sandy

As we now enter the last phase of recovery after Hurricane Sandy, only now can we start collecting all our thoughts and feelings on such a devastating natural disaster. Many of us were affected in different ways, some more severely than others, but as we look back on what happened we should strive to find a silver lining. Like any experience, new feelings and thoughts can be channeled into something creative. Use this devastating experience to push your creativity and create something out of this situation.

As for those who are still affected by Sandy, you can give a helping hand here.

"The Public Creates Stars"

CALL FOR ENTRIES Next March, one independent film will debut in 100 theatres around the United States — and it could be yours! Co-presented by MovieMaker Magazine, MANHATTAN SHORT is launching a truly revolutionary project that will help indie filmmakers gain wide exposure for their work. Like absolutely nothing else in the world, the Feature Film Project will premiere one film on March 21st, 2013 in more than 100 theaters across the country. Audiences at each venue will get to vote on whether or not to bring the film back for a full, one-week run at that cinema. If the majority of viewers vote yes, the film comes back. It's that simple. The film will be distributed on DCP, which SpectiCast will provide free of charge. The Feature Film Project is open to filmmakers worldwide, and the deadline for entries is December 31st, 2012. Click Here to register your film. For cinemas that would like to be involved in The Feature Film Project, Click Here to nominate your venue. Visit our website at www.TheFeatureFilmProject.com Contact: Info@TheFeatureFilmProject.com CLICK to follow us on TWITTER CLICK to join us on FACEBOOK

Get connected - Facebook and Twitter Contact - info@TheFeatureFilmProject.com | www.TheFeatureFilmProject.com

It's the Public that Creates Stars

           TROPFEST, The World's Largest Short Film Festival, Announces 'ROUGHCUT' FILM SYMPOSIUM IN NEW YORK

Malcolm Gladwell, Charles Randolph, Liev Schreiber and more join Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Scott Foundas for Day Of Programming on the Art of Storytelling On Screen

New York, NY (November 12, 2012) – Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival which staged its hugely successful U.S debut in Bryant Park earlier this year in front of a 10,000 plus capacity crowd, today announced its next phase of programming, the Roughcut film symposium. Produced in the United States in partnership with The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Roughcut is an exclusive and intimate day-long series of lectures, conversations and presentations about the art of storytelling on screen. The event will feature actor/writer/director Liev Schreiber (Salt, X-Men: Origins, Everything Is Illuminated), film editor Sarah Flack (Lost in Translation), producer/writer Scott Rosenberg (Gone in 60 Seconds, Con Air), Entertainment Weekly's film critic Lisa Schwarzbaum, Global Chief Creative Officer of R/GA Nick Law and Tropfest’s founder and director/producer John Polson (Swimfan, Hide and Seek) in moderated conversations with FSLC Associate Director of Programming, Scott Foundas.  Best-selling author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Outliers) will keynote the event in a conversation with internationally celebrated screenwriter Charles Randolph (Love and Other Drugs). Roughcut will be held on Friday, December 7th beginning at 10 am at The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s landmark state-of-the-art Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center.

For more information please click here or to buy tickets, please click here.

 

BIG CITY. SHORT FILMS.

      

Director Talk for Students

Halloween Party

Thank you to all who came out to the Halloween Party. Here are some pics from that memorable night!

n

Attendance Reminder

Following the events of Hurricane Sandy, we hope that you have been safe and able to resume your  class schedule as usual. However, the attendance policy stills stands, so if you still having issues attending class you must communicate with your instructor to see how your classes are doing.

Registration for Winter 2013

Registration for the Winter 2013 quarter is now in effect. David Nash will be registering students according to their teach out forms. If you do NOT have a teach out form, please see David Nash immediately!

Free Event - Inside The Cutting Room with Bobbie O'Steen

Hey guys, here's a chance to join renowned author, Bobbie O’Steen (“Cut to the Chase”, “The Invisible Cut”) for an in-depth discussion with master film editor, Tim Squyres, who will screen footage and talk about his work on such films as, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Syriana”, “Rachel Getting Married”, and “Life of Pi”.

Click below for free tickets!

Free Event - Inside The Cutting Room with Bobbie O'Steen

Director Talk - Halloween Party and Registration!

Video Contest!

Science, it's a Girl Thing! is holding a video contest for their website which encourages young women to choose science in their future careers. All that's needed to enter is a 1 minute (or less) video designed to create awareness for the initiative and to encourage young women to consider scientific career paths. The prize is 1500 euros.

Click here for complete contest rules! http://www.gender-summit.eu/index.php/programme-2012/day-1/egs-video-contest

Another Short to Feature

Here's a little inspiration for the weekend: independent filmmaker Stephan Zloetescu has signed a deal with Warner Brothers to turn his short film, True Skin (below), into a feature film. Zloetescu will be directing the feature.

Amazing low budget short! Read more on this here http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/stephan-zlotescus-sci-fi-short-true-skin-gettting-a-full-feature/

David Fincher's Kickstarter Campaign

If you thought Kickstarters & Indiegogo fundraising campaigns were only for students, guess again. David Fincher, Eric Powell and Blur Studios created a Kickstarter campaign to help fund their new comic book-turned-animated movie, The Goon. Because Hollywood isn't too keen on putting money on original ideas these days, it appears they need some help funding a feature-length story reel based on Powell's script in order to persuade Hollywood to create this film. The campaign states, "Because this movie isn't a sequel or filled with dancing animals we'll need more to bust open the gates." Check out their Kickstarter campaign here.

So far the campaign seems pretty successful. Hopefully they achieve their goal!

When raising funds for thesis, make sure to start a Kickstarter or Indiegogo. They're free and may help you out significantly!

Looper Pre-Visualization

Like the pitch video for a Halloween remake that was posted a few weeks ago, here goes another pitch video - this time for Looper, before it became the film that plays in theaters now. It's interesting to see the process of a successful film being made, especially in its earliest stages. Check it out below.



When preparing to shoot your thesis film, it's important to visualize the look and tone of your film. Borrow visual aides from other films, drawings, photos, and anything that might help serve as a blueprint for both you and your crew during pre-production.

Michael Myers takes Driving Lessons

* WARNING - This video has graphic blood and gore, however it's hilarious. If you are squeamish, skip this one. Happy Halloween!

DFM Halloween Party!

Bring your best film/TV costume and your party shoes to the DFM Halloween Party on October 26th (5 - 8pm)!

 

The party will be held on the 2nd Floor (Cage, TV studio, and various hallways). Get your free ticket at the Cage. You MUST be dressed as a film/ TV character in order to attend. Music and refreshments will be provided! We will also be raffling off various prizes - don't miss out!

Not All Movies Make It

As filmmakers we experience several road bumps along the way, and sometimes that road bump is getting the film made in the first place. SlashFilm posted a pitch video for a proposed Halloween remake by head Storyboard Artist and Animatics Supervisor at Marvel Studios, Federico D'Alessandro. Unfortunately, his proposal was turned down in favor of Rob Zombie's version on the horror classic. Check out D'Alessandro's amazing animatic short below:



Even Paul Thomas Anderson's new film, The Master, almost didn't make it off the ground. Anderson, an Oscar award nominated director, experienced trouble getting a studio to pick up his latest film. But luckily, the daughter of a multibillionaire CEO, Megan Ellison, decided to try her hand at producing movies that were considered "commercially challenging" and picked up Anderson's film. If the thought of a great director like Anderson experiencing trouble getting his film made isn't staggering enough for you, Orson Welles once faced the same trouble - and lost. Welles, arguably the best director of all time, once had an idea for a half-animated, half-live action adaptation of classic childrens book, The Little Prince. Unfortunately, after a rumored meeting between Welles, Walt Disney and his staff went awry, Disney refused to participate. Welles went off to do other projects and the film adaptation of The Little Prince never materialized.

Although a great story and creativity are the major driving forces behind a film, sometimes even those elements can fall short of getting the actual film made. Meeting the right people at the right time is a big factor, which is why networking can be as important to filmmaking as the story itself.

Short films > Feature films?

There's an interesting article on Hollywood and its lack of original story lines in feature films. This is explained quite simply; movies cost a lot of money to make, and studios don't like taking a gamble on a new idea. Thus, we're left with a constant stream of sequels and adaptations.

But what about new ideas and where do they fit in? This is where short films come in. Short films provide a different medium with more artistic freedom to tell a story.  Like the article points out, directors such as Spike Jonze and Chris Milk are experimenting with short films and trying out new ideas that perhaps would not be possible to do with a feature film. A quote by Jane Campion comes to mind - "..Short films are not inferior, just different. I think the short gives a freedom to filmmakers. What's appealing is that you don't have as much responsibility for storytelling and plot. They can be more like a portrait, or a poem. The great thing is that almost everyone ends up doing something creative with them, even those directors who then go on to make quite boring features."

Although most of us dream of making a feature film one day, maybe we should change our feelings on what many of us perceive as a limitation and embrace the short film. Someone once told me that true artistic freedom lies in film school; you're free to dream up any idea and make it on your own terms. Make your short film with that in mind and chances are that short will be more creative and original than what you see on the big screen.

Alpha Channel - The Photos

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the student screening last night! Special thanks to Ryo, Roz, and Josh for lending their support by being present for the students and their work. Nice to see some alumni came out for the event as well. I hope you all enjoyed the new space! See ya all on Friday for the Alumni/Faculty/Staff Screening!

Enter Your Short Film to Shorts Showcase!

Here's a chance for your short film to play on PBS!

Shorts Showcase is broadcasted on PBS into 18 million homes in Southern California. The show offers student filmmakers a venue to be seen by other film enthusiasts, producers, directors, etc. Their website, ShortsShowcase.com is known throughout the industry as the "24/7 Film Festival". A new short will be shown every week on PBS and daily at ShortsShowcase.com. The film that gets the most votes each month wins a prize and the top films of the year will be screened at their Awards Ceremony in April 20143. The submission deadline is September 30th.

Here is an interview with the Polish Brothers - a must-see for any filmmaker and s sampling of their benefits Shorts Showcase has to offer you:


Don't miss up on this! Fill out a submission form here.

DFM Department Meetings

Attention all DFM faculty and students! We will be having DFM department meetings throughout next week (week 11)

Ask your instructors for details.

Alpha Channel Winners

Congrats to our Alpha Channel Winners!

Vanessty Miller - Embrace It
Theresa Murino - Secret A
Jennifer Humala - WCV Fashion Film
Geroni J - Side Effect 2
Charles Brooks - Gatorade Commercial
Andrew Greenblatt - Girls Gone Wild
Adam Spieler - Monologue in B Sharp

**And don't forget to get your tickets to Alpha Channel HERE!

Fall Movies 2012

Bad news: Summer is over. Good news: with fall comes the release of many highly-anticipated new films. Where does one start? Here's a rundown of some that look like they'll be worth that $16 movie ticket:

The Master
P.T. Anderson's much anticipated film starring Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman is a must-see! Anderson's last film was the Oscar-winning There Will Be Blood, so expectations are running high for his latest film. So far, the film (that's "not" about Scientology) has been getting rave reviews after it premiered at the Venice Film Festival. This is definitely a film to look out for this Oscar season. (Sept. 21st)

Cloud Atlas

Based on the novel by David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas not only has three directors, the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer, but a $100 million budget, making it the largest non-studio film ever made. The film has quite a heavy plot, including six different time periods (some take place in the past, some in the future) and a star-studded cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Jim Sturgess, and Susan Sarandon (who plays an Indian man!) just to name a few. The trailer looks insane!(Oct. 26) 

Life of Pi
Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) directs this 3D adaptation of the best-selling novel "Life of Pi", starring newcomer Suraj Sharma. Lee reportedly said this film was the hardest movie he's ever made. I'm excited to see why! (Nov. 21st)

Wreck-it-Ralph

Watch out Pixar, because this Disney movie looks so good. If you grew up in the early video game era like I did, you'll want to check out this movie about the world of old school video game villains, from Atari to Halo. The film follows the story of a video game villain, Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) who gets fed up with being the bad guy and longs to be a hero in another video game. The movie has some of the most recognizable characters in video game history, including M. Bison, Dr. Robotnick, the ghosts from Pac-Man, and even Bowser. The trailer will have you sold. (Nov. 2nd)

Django Unchained

One of the most highly-antcipated movies this year, just cause it's Tarantino. The film boasts an all-star cast (Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson) and a story that follows a slave-turned-bounty hunter set to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Although I'm not entirely sold on this trailer, anything Tarantino deserves a shot, so why not?

Here are some other must-see films this fall season: Resident Evil: Retribution (Sept. 14th), Liberal Arts (Sept. 14th), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Sept. 21st), The Paperboy (Oct. 5),  Argo (Oct. 12th), Killing Them Softly (Oct. 19th), The Flight (Nov. 2nd), Skyfall (Nov. 9th), Lincoln (Nov. 9th), The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Dec 14th), Les Miserables (Dec. 14th), This is 40 (Dec. 21st)

What are you excited to see this fall season?

Prop Rentals

Using a real weapon in your film can be tricky due to NYC laws, but sometimes finding a believable prop is just as difficult. Using the right props can be vital to your film, and The Specialists is a great place to help you get the right one. Their inventory has a wide variety of props, including weapons, fake drugs, and household items that would normally be unavailable to you. Check out their showroom located in SoHo and their website: http://thespecialistsltd.com/

From Short to Feature

The chances of your short film being turned into a feature might be slim, but not impossible. More and more short film directors are being recruited by Hollywood to turn their short films into feature films. Although that's certainly a dream for many of us, does it necessarily guarantee a career launch into success?

The latest short film being turned into a feature is Lovely Monster, written and directed by young Italian filmmaker Francesco Calabrese. The well-recieved horror short is currently in negotiations with Lionsgate for a feature film adaptation, giving Calabrese a shot to make his feature directorial debut. Lovely Monster utilizes faux-documentary style to tell the story of a young girl with a mysterious condition that is turning her into what those around her call a "monster". After checking out the short I am most certainly looking forward to the feature film version. Check out this awesome short below:

Sometimes all it takes is a short film to launch your career as a feature film director. Many people would be surprised to know that Wes Anderson, arguably one of the best filmmakers today, started his career with a short film, Bottle Rocket. The 13- minute, black and white short film was written by Anderson and his then-college roommate, Owen Wilson and his brother Luke Wilson. The short film premiered at the USA Film Festival in Dallas and received enthusiastic praise before being shown at Sundance. There, it caught the attention of screenwriter L.M Kit Carson who immediately sent it to James L. Brooks. This intervention secured financial backing for a feature film adaptation, which is now Anderson's classic feature debut, Bottle Rocket. Here is Wes Anderson's original 1996 short film:

(click here for Part 2)

But sometimes the short film catches more buzz than the feature does. Take for instance filmmaker Spencer Susser. His 2008 zombie-fest short film I Love You Sarah Jane was well received in festivals, leading Spencer to direct his first feature film, Hesher. Unfortunately, Hesher failed to make much of splash in theaters, even with stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman as the main characters. However, it looks like Spencer is getting a second chance and returning to his short I Love You Sarah Jane and adapting it into a feature. The short is amazing and the special effects aren't too bad for a short film budget. I'll be looking forward to the bigger budget version of this! Check out the original short below:

These shorts serve as reminder for many independent filmmakers; whatever path you take may or may not lead to success, but having your short film turned into a feature is a success in its own.

Filmmaking Contest!

Hey guys, AbelCine and Vision Reasearch has launched an awesome new camera, the Phantom Miro M320S high-speed digital camera (check out more information on the camera here) and a contest calling all filmmakers with a chance to use it!

Submit a treatment, script or storyboard for a proposed 3-6 minute long project to be shot on the Phantom Miro and you can be one of four finalists that will be sent a Phantom Miro package to shoot your project within a week. One grand prize winner will win the Phantom Miro package (retail price: $25,900 - $60,000).

Check out the rules and submission requirements here.

Good Luck!

Spike Lee Interview!

Great suggestion from Julie! Attached is a conversation between Spike Lee and Leonard Lopate regarding his latest film "Red Hook Summer". Enjoy!

Film Festivals!

Made a short film? Don't just stop at Alpha Channel! There are many film festivals you may submit your short to. You have nothing to lose (except maybe your admission fee!) and submitting your film is usually an easy process. The following festivals accept short films and their submission deadlines are within September or October:

- Hollywood Black Film Festival

- Terror Film Festival


- Big Apple Film Festival

- Macon Film Festival

- New York Los Angeles International Film Festival

- La Femme International Film Festival

- Indie Fest

- Bronx International Film Festival

- Laugh Out Loud Short Film Festival

- Three Rivers Film Festival

- United Film Festival - New York

- International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival

- Cineview Film Festival

- Literati Film Festival

- Women's International Film & Arts Festival

And don't forget to register with Without A Box for daily updates and easy submission to all festivals worldwide!  Good luck!

A student's reaction to EDMC's decision

Like many of you, I'm a DF student here at Ai and I was shocked to hear that EDMC have decided to cancel the Digital Filmmaking program. Although I am graduating before the film program is gone, I am still very much affected by this bad news.

After high school, I worked as a make-up artist for many years. I made a decent living but I hated my job. At twenty-five I decided to stop and change my life around in order to pursue my true passion. Unfortunately most film schools in NYC require a portfolio in order to enroll; I was a cinephile who had never picked up a camera. Ai was the first school that gave me a chance. At first I wasn't sure what to expect out of the program, but I was happy to find that a lot of the classes were so hands-on; while my friends were watching Citizen Kane for the upteenth time over at another film school, I was learning how to work with a production team and how to operate equipment. I was also happy to work with such a diverse group of students, many of whom I hope to collaborate with in my professional career. Sure, like any other student I've had some complaints here and there, but overall I found the film program and faculty extremely helpful and motivating. The film program here is tailored to get you out into the work place and as someone who had moved back with her mom in order to return to school full time, that was exactly what I was looking for.

My story is not special. A lot of students here have their own stories, their own struggles. The DF program has given a lot of people with limited options an opportunity to pursue their passion in the film capital of the world. To say that I'm disappointed is an understatement - I think I speak for most of us when I say I feel like a mixed bag of emotions (a big one being anger) and I'm left with many unanswered questions. Knowing that EDMC made this decision based on business matters only adds salt to the wound.

So what now? I don't know. But what I do know is regardless of whats happening, I'm going to take what I've learned here at Ai and continue to sharpen my skills and create as much as I can. I love filmmaking, and this situation only motivates me to work harder at what I do. Let's take advantage of our time here and get together to help each other out on our projects. Continue to create, continue to work hard. Take all that anger and work your way to the top.

- Melissa Fortunatti

Rules of the Cage

We are sorry about what has recently unfolded here at the Art Institute but we must move forward. Please watch this video about updates for the Cage

Reaction to letter from President

Opportunites for Women in Film

Women have had a big hand in filmmaking from the earliest days of cinema to the present. From Alice Guy and Gene Gauntier to Sofia Coppola and Kathryn Bigelow, the history of women in filmmaking is as long as film production itself. However, as a woman in this male-dominated industry, there can be many obstacles we might experience along the way. Luckily, there are many organizations that provide support and various services to women involved in filmmaking.

Women Make Movies is an awesome non-profit media arts organization that provides distribution services, fiscal sponsorship, low-cost media workshops and information services for women in the film industry, with a special emphasis on women of color. Women can especially benefit when it comes to fundraising, a hurdle most independent filmmakers experience with their projects. Click here for more information on WMM.

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is another great non-profit organization that offers support for women in film, television and digital media. They provide training and grants to women in the industry through a variety of funding programs. Our own Roz Sohnen has been involved with NYWIFT for quite some time. Click here for more information on NYWIFT.

I'll end this post with one of my favorite quotes from a female director:
"If there's specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies." - Kathryn Bigelow

New York shows post-production some love

Good news for New Yorkers involved in post-production: Gov. Cuomo signed a bill that will triple the state's post-production tax credit. Sorry, LA.

The new bill will increase the credit from 10% to 30% on post-production costs, making it the first of its kind in the country. This applies to projects that spend 75% of their post-productions costs in the state. This bill will surely encourage more projects to bring their post-production work to the Big Apple, which will benefit many in the industry.

Read more information on the new tax credit here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/incentives/tax_credit_overview.shtml