Film director George Cukor once stated, “You learn out of bitter experience, trial and error.” Imagine a program that gives you the opportunity to learn many of those life lessons while still in high school. Imagine going to school each day and attending small classes, where you are exposed to, and learn from, visiting professionals in the industry

In Film and Video Production Class students gain hands-on experience by writing, directing, and editing their own film and video projects. The course is designed to give each student an overview of the many aspects of the motion picture industry, including writing, producing, directing, lighting, shooting, sound recording, and editing. This is achieved partially through lecture time, partially though critiquing the work of other filmmakers including fellow classmates, and partially through hands-on production.

Through this process they not only gain a valuable and marketable skill, but will have strengthened their thinking skills by learning to think abstractly and conceptually.

In addition to learning the aesthetics of film and video production students also learn several computer programs including: Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Garageband, Soundtrack, Motion, Livetype, DVD Studio Pro and much more.

For the Interview: Bring examples of your writing, art work, photography OR video projects. Videos should be no more than five minutes in length. Be prepared to spend approximately 15 minutes writing during the interview. Videos should be on VHS tape or DVD minus “R” format. If your video is available only on some other format (i.e. DVD plus “R”, mini DV, 8mm, QuickTime, etc.) bring a device for playing it during the interview. Note: A good academic record is more important than prior video editing or production experience.



NEWS

Film/Video students Ronnie Nelson, Julia Johns and Brett Batson have been accepted in  North Carolina School of the Arts’ film program.  NCSA is one of the top film schools in the country. In addition Ronnie Nelson has been accepted into Columbia College’s (Chicago) film program.

In February, Film/Video student Noah Smith took second place in the SC Healthy Challenge video contest sponsored by South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford. This includes a cash a prize of $1500. Noah was awarded the prize on March 19^th at the Governor’s Mansion by the First Lady.  Film/Video student Danny Drescher took first place the previous month with a cash award of $3500.

Eric Rogers, recently became the area’s only Final Cut Pro certified trainer. Final Cut Pro is an Emmy Award winning editing program that Eric’s students use to edit their digital film projects.

Eric’s independent feature film, Elizabeth Gunness, will be screening at the Appalachian Film Festival in Huntington, West Virginia Friday April 18^th at 8:00 PM. The film stars Fine Arts Center director Roy Fluhrer and features a prominent voice over by Theatre instructor Teri Parker-Lewis.

Fine Arts Center Film/Video students will be partnering with Clemson’s Computer Science department to produce a short film mixing live action and computer animation. Clemson’s graduate level Digital Production Arts program is one of the top computer animation programs in the country. Graduates of the program include employees of George Lucas’s special effects company Industrial, Light and Magic and John Hughes’ Rhythm and Hues Visual Effects Studio.  Film/Video students, under the tutelage of Eric Rogers, will be responsible for shooting and editing the live footage portion of the film. The film is being produced and directed by Clemson Professors Timothy Davis and David Donar. The project is being funded by a $75,000 grant from the South Carolina Film Commission.

Alumni News

Former Film/Video students John Ferrer and Aubrey Curtis will be screening their feature film Neutral at the Indie Grits Film Festival in Columbia.  Neutral was directed by Asheville resident Joe Chang. John and Aubrey produced the film. Neutral is made up of a series of loose-knit vignettes which flow from one to another without a traditional story line. Encountering over 70 characters during the course of a day, the film drifts in surreal directions and parades along with playfully absurd comedy. Examples of scenes include the shadows of a boy and girl discussing the favorite shapes they become, a chance encounter between a young woman and the author of her life, and a father taking his family trip far out of the way to return a friend's five pack of diet soda.