Media

For three days, from May 25th-27th, three groups of New Design High School students had the opportunity to write, record and create a music video based on their original songs aboard the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a state of the art mobile audio and HD video recording and production facility. The students spent the days learning techniques and tools of the trade from professional staff and were afforded special visits by top selling recording artist Miguel and President and CEO of Montblanc North America, Jan-Patrick Schmitz who provided feedback.

We were excited to partner with another one of Montblanc’s arts education beneficiaries to bring student work to new levels and broader audiences. See the result of their work in the music video below, and check out what else the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is up to at http://www.lennonbus.org/

 

See the music video "Midnight Sun' by the Bangaas!!! 

Story by Jemima Osea-Asante
 
Three weeks ago I watched my peers in MediaLab prepare for their big-screen debut at the Tribeca Film Institute’s Our City, My Story showcase, and last Friday night I had the honor to watch their hard work and dedication be brought to light. 
 
We were welcomed to the event by a large billboard sign that read “Bright Lights, Big Screen,” and then we stepped on the red carpet to have our pictures taken like true film professionals.
 

 
MediaLabbers brought their ‘A’ game to Tribeca, looking sharp for the cameras. Behind them is Tribeca’s step-and-repeat wall. (These walls are commonly used at important events like the Academy Awards.)
 
The morning screening, which was exclusive for student filmmakers, was held at Tribeca’s Performing Arts Center in the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), while the evening screening for public viewing was held at Chelsea Clearview Cinemas.  Though both atmospheres were busy I was able to ask Tribeca’s Director of Education, Lisa Lucas, where her motivation to organize the show came from. “We want to connect young filmmakers with an audience,” she said. 
 
When I spoke to aspiring student filmmakers in the audience they shared how they felt that having money to make films was a big factor in being able to participate. “I’d love to have a lot of money to participate in this, but cinematography equipment and key editing programs like Final Cut Pro cost thousands of dollars.  I don’t have that kind of money.” Personally, I feel lucky to be working with MediaLab, where students are provided with the equipment and guidance they need to produce their own films. And thanks to the Tribeca Film Institute, young artists have one less thing to worry about: they have a center where they can go to view and share their work!
 

 
As soon as Type Cast appeared on the big screen the MediaLab crew cheered and the other students in the audience made a short improvisation to the opening song.  It was a proud moment for all of us, as we all knew the secrets behind every scene and the steps taken to make Type Cast possible.  Joshua Diaz, one of the main characters in the documentary, shared how “I got to spread awareness about diabetes, and I did so with MY story… It’s great to see it actually getting out there.”  The entire MediaLab crew was thrilled to share our work with an audience that can take the film’s message to heart and make better decisions to promote good health.
 

 
Tribeca did a fine job when it came to presenting a wide range of issue-driven films: undocumented immigration, gentrification, the politics of food, gun violence, and the education system.   A crowd favorite was the short documentary A Block from Home by students from John Dewey High School.   In this film, gun violence victim Brandon Ragnot re-enacts his near-death experience and shares his remarkable journey to recovery.  Brandon's was the only film to receive a standing ovation, something that has never happened before at the festival according to Lisa Lucas.  
 
All in all, the MediaLabbers had a wonderful time.  Thank you to Lisa Lucas and the Tribeca Film Institute for organizing this incredible event!

 

Story by Jemima Osea-Asante.  Photographs by Craig Wallace.

 

In less than three weeks Type Cast is set to air at the Tribeca Film Institute’s Our City, My Story showcase, and while I feel the excitement in the Urban Arts offices I also see a sense of accomplishment among the members of the MediaLab Team. Today was all about preparing for the event, and while I always knew my MediaLab peers were capable of being proficient, I was really impressed with the leadership skills everybody demonstrated.
 
Our producers worked on making phone calls to other MediaLabbers who were not able to make it to class this week. We confirmed that all filmmakers had turned in their permission slips and booked each one to represent at an afternoon or evening screening.  We are not playing games and are determined to see our documentary on the big screen!
 
MediaLab Producers calling out the troops.  We mean business, people!
 
Every filmmaker also prepared his or her “elevator pitch.”  An elevator pitch is a speech one makes in a short amount of time, usually 30 seconds, during which one shares his or her ideas with a superior, in our case, the producers at Tribeca.  Picture yourself stepping into an elevator on the first floor to find your boss coincidentally on his way to the 40th floor.  You have a short amount of time—the length of the ride—to pitch him your idea.  We have been practicing different ways to make those 30 seconds count.  During our role play, my two personalities were “Roberta De Niro” and “Aunt Jemima Jolie.”
 
Entourage meets entourage.  That's Aunt Jemima Jolie and Robert De Niro on the left, with emerging filmmakers delivering their pitch on the right.  A complicated web of handshakes ensues.
 
We hope to see you on April 29th at the Tribeca Film Institute, where hopefully you will get to see a preview of our elevator pitches!

 

 

This post has not yet been approved by your moderator.

3rd Annual New York Youth Media Arts Show

18 Mar 2011, 2:56 PM by frank, Urban Arts MediaLab

On Wednesday, March 16, 2011 from 10am-2pm, a unique event took place in our media-rich city: The 3rd annual New York Youth Media Arts Show. Students from New York’s high schools and middle schools gathered in the HD theater at the stunningly redesigned Museum of the Moving Image ( 35th Ave. and 36th St., Queens, New York)  to share the varied media works they have created in film, video, photography, and computer multi-media.


 
The MediaLab students screened TYPECAST to a captive audience. The other works covered topics ranging from health and human rights to continent awareness and philosophy using the following forms: documentary making, stop-frame animation, music videos, and PSA. Special guest Stephen Mallon, noted industrial photographer, premiered his stop motion feature "Willis Avenue Bridge" at the festival as well, which documented the transportation of the Willis Avenue Bridge from its original location to the Bronx, NY. Prizes sponsored by the museum and local film companies were raffled between film screenings. Afterward, Urban Arts Partnership Media Lab students toured the pioneering museum exhibits of  communication and media arts, exploring interactive exhibits and hands-on workshops (stop frame and ADR looping stations) which enhanced their interest and understanding of film-making.
 


As a founding member and alum of the MediaLab program, I was proud to see that the program has expanded so much and that our vision of creating change through film is being carried out. I enjoyed chaperoning this year’s MediaLab students to this show and serving as a mentor who can relate to the process of making and sharing ones work with a larger audience.
 
 Written by Zanetta King

MediaLab Films Screen at Harlem Stage

13 Feb 2011, 3:32 PM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

Story by Producers Marlin Almonte and Stephanie Fleming
 
On December 9 we screened Ghetto Talks and Type Cast for two groups of audiences at the Harlem Stage Youth Speak: Breaking Stereotypes & Reshaping Identity series. After each screening we had a Q&A session with the audience members. They had a lot of questions, and we answered them all. 
 
 
 
MARLIN ALMONTE: It was the first time I had ever led a Q&A, just the audience and me.  “What new knowledge or content did you learn as you worked on Ghetto Talks and how has it changed your life?” one person asked.  I was thrilled with this question because I actually learned so much working on the documentary; this new knowledge impacts me every day.  Not only do I know the history behind the word ghetto but I also know other people's perspectives.  I'm much more open-minded now. I became more aware of all the different nuances of the word. 
 
Seeing the enthusiasm of the Harlem Stage audience gave me a feeling of accomplishment. I felt proud of all the hard work my team put into making Ghetto Talks.
 
 
STEPHANIE FLEMING: After screening Type Cast, I asked our audience if anyone was affected by diabetes, and I was surprised by how many people raised their hands.  That right there showed me that anyone of any age, any race or any color can be affected by this epidemic. 
 
The audience members had some really good questions, too.  One person wanted to know if either of the two personal narratives in Type Cast had affected me in any way. My answer may have shocked many people.  I told them that I was deeply affected by Tiffany's story about losing her father to Type II diabetes because my mom’s boyfriend has Type II.    
 
I thought the Type Cast screening at Harlem Stage was cool because when I watched the film on the big screen I realized just how much my camera work has grown since joining MediaLab.  I also liked the audience's questions because they helped me realize that people really do care about the film’s message.
 
Overall, the audience seemed engaged in both of our films.  Many students came to us afterwards to ask about Urban Arts. They seemed really interested in the work that we do.
 
If you are a public school student interested in joining the MediaLab program, write to medialab@urbanarts.org to request an application.  Admissions are rolling.
 
And stay tuned for the online release of Ghetto Talks!!!

 

 

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Facebook Twitter Contact
Website design by Hudson Union