Statement from Dean Robert Bucker Regarding Summer Session 2009
The current economic crisis has severely impacted the California State University system and Cal State Northridge, forcing us to restrict the number of students we can enroll in Academic Year 2009/10, which begins with the summer 2009 semester. As the state economy worsened after the budget compromise was forged, the Chancellor’s office for the CSU alerted campuses to the possibility of additional budget shortfalls. Campuses were asked to employ a variety of strategies to meet but not exceed revised enrollment targets.
For this reason, MCCAMC summer enrollment was lowered prior to summer registration by canceling a number of classes to assist in meeting the College's reduced enrollment target. The College made this reduction in summer courses to preserve enrollment for the rest of the 2009/2010 academic year. However every effort is being made to accommodate graduating seniors who require six or less units to complete their degree during summer 2009.
Wm Robert Bucker
Dean, Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
IN THE NEWS...
|
CSUN Students Headed to International Film Competition for Making LIKE A TREE
|
(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Jun. 1st, 2009) ― A man with a cassette player is surrounded by people with advanced technology. Dissatisfied with his meager device, he lets his imagination—with help from Mother Nature—take him farther than technology ever could. It’s a simple premise for a movie, but one that is taking Cal State Northridge film students Michael O’Connor and Ross Sauriol from Manzanita Hall, home to CSUN’s Department of Cinema and Television Arts, to the screening rooms of Paramount Studios later this month. O’Connor and Sauriol and their short film, “Make Like A Tree,” have been invited to take part in the Campus MovieFest 2009 International Grand Finale at Paramount on June 11-13. The event will feature the top 45 films from Campus Movie Fests held at universities across the country. “We feel honored and grateful to be included in the festival,” O’Connor said. “To be honest with you, I’m not sure what all is happening at the Grand Finale, but I am looking forward to seeing all the other student films and perhaps learning something.” Representatives from Campus MovieFest, which professes to be the world’s largest student film competition, visited university film departments last fall and invited the young filmmakers to participate. The students were given one week and all the equipment needed to shoot, edit and produce a short film. O’Connor and Sauriol, who have just finished their junior years at CSUN, declined the offer of equipment since they had their own, but took up the challenge to make a film in a week. “We actually did it in only two days,” said O’Connor, 21, of Agoura Hills, who composed the music for the film and starred as its main protagonist. With limited time, O’Conner said they weren’t going to hire an actor. Most of the locations for the film were near his house, or on the CSUN campus. “And since I kind of look like a nature, grungy guy, it made sense for me to be in it.” “Make Like a Tree” made the top three of the CSUN student entries in the Campus MovieFest, and was invited to be part of the regional contest in San Francisco. There, it made the top 16. “After that, I thought it was over,” O’Connor said. “But then we got a call that we were invited to Hollywood. That was pretty nice.” O’Connor said he has been struck by how different people interpret “Make Like a Tree.” “To me, it’s about a guy using his imagination to have fun,” he said. “But Ross sees it as a technology vs. nature concept. Others see it as a green film. While that wasn’t my goal, I’m glad people are enjoying it.” |
CTVA professor shows Watts Towers documentary at International ConferenceCSUN Cinema and Television Arts Department lecturer Edward Landler presented his feature-length documentary “I BUILD THE TOWER” in Genoa, Italy, last week, at a major international conference about the Watts Towers. “Art and Migration: an International Conference on Sabato (Simon) Rodia and the Watts Towers of Los Angeles,” took place at the University of Genoa April 2-4, 2009, and it was the first major academic conference to be held on the subject. The University of Genoa sponsored the conference in collaboration with U.C.L.A.’s International Institute. I BUILD THE TOWER was the opening presentation of the conference, which went on to hear seventeen papers written about the Towers; the community of Watts; Italian migration; and “outsider” art, presented by scholars from such European and American institutions as U.C.L.A.; Queens College; Loyola Marymount University; the Manchester (U.K.) School of Architecture; and La Sapienza University of Rome. Alessandro Del Lago of the University of Genoa said he was inspired to organize the conference after seeing the Watts Towers and Landler’s I BUILD THE TOWER while in Los Angeles in 2007 as a visiting scholar at U.C.L.A. I BUILD THE TOWER is the definitive documentary on the Watts Towers. Landler co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced the film with Brad Byer, the great-nephew of its subject and creator of the towers, Simon Rodia. Landler and Byer’s film was recognized in Variety as “the most complete visual account of Rodia and his masterpiece.” It has been praised by director Ken Burns as “wonderful, lyrical and compelling,” and by critic Leonard Maltin as “heartfelt and fascinating, a real discovery.” The film will showcase in a follow-up conference held next year in Los Angeles. For further information about the Watts Towers Conference in Genoa, see Mike Boehm’s Culture Monster blog article on the Los Angeles Times website: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com:80/culturemonster/2009/03/watts-towers.html For further information about the Watts Towers documentary, contact www.ibuildthetower.com where DVDs of the documentary and CDs of the film’s music are also available for purchase. |
|
|
|
CSUN Students Awarded Film ScholarshipsMedia Contact: Nichole O'Grady / nichole.ogrady.67@csun.edu / (818) 677-2130 Two Cal State Northridge Cinema and Television Art (CTVA) students were awarded the 2008 J. Michael Brinkman Scholarship Award, honoring their commitment to excellence and desire to further their careers in post-production. Daniel Reams and Nicholas Batchelder, both senior CTVA students, received $1,000 in scholarship money to help fund their career as film students. Four university students from California were chosen for this award. “Having two CSUN multimedia students win this scholarship is both gratifying and exciting,” said Mary Schaffer, head of the multimedia option at CSUN. “The multimedia option in the CTVA department is one that combines all digital aspects of the entertainment and corporate production worlds. Many multimedia students, upon graduating, enter the field of post-production.” Brinkman, for whom the scholarship is named for, is a leading figure in Hollywood’s broadcast and post-production communities and was a founding member of the Hollywood Post Alliance (HPA), which provides expertise, support, tools and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, digital media and other dynamic media. Much of Brinkman’s professional life was spent helping others understand technology in the service of the creative endeavor. His enthusiasm and willingness to mentor touched many lives. In his memory, the HPA continues his legacy by helping students and faculty in the post film career. Having graduated in December, Reams, a Simi Valley resident, is honored to have the recognition of the HPA. “It was an awesome feeling receiving this award because the HPA has such a large presence in the industry. It was a big surprise to be recognized by them,” he said. “Aside from the monetary benefits of the scholarship, it will benefit me in the fact that it’s almost a conversation starter. It’s an award I’m proud of.” A Granada Hills resident, Batchelder has already found success, partially brought on by the HPA’s recognition. “Aside from enabling me to complete my degree, it also adds to my resume and gives me a boost of encouragement in a career I am currently pursuing,” he said. “Since receiving the award, I have already been employed as an editor for two features and a television pilot. I intend to explore the art of editing with the frame of mind that a skilled editor makes a skilled director.” In addition to the student’s recognition and success, HPA awards a stipend to the recommending instructors of scholarship winners to be used in support of their scholarly endeavors. CSUN’s Cinema and Television Arts director, Mary Schaffer, was among the four instructor’s who were recognized. “The HPA is a forward thinking organization, one that has embraced students. The HPA leadership and membership has always been helpful to students,” said Schaffer. “It is an honor to be recognized by the HPA. They are committing resources to the next generation of editors and post-production professionals.” |
|
CSUN Professor’s documentary on the life of an American Muslim comedian wins two awards at film festival(July 30, 2008) The idea for the film, "Ahmed, Say Something Funny," was hatched about six years ago when Cal State Northridge cinema and television arts professor Thelma Vickroy caught a performance of comedian Ahmed Ahmed at the Comedy Store in Hollywood. (MORE...) |
Henry Fernandez is Selected for a Princess Grace Award(August 1, 2008) National in scope, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA is dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging talent in theater, dance, and film (MORE...)
|
2009 Senior Film Showcase hosted by Bill Duke 
Broadcast Education Association Media Arts Festival honors CSUN Cinema and TV Arts Professor Eric Edson's feature-length screenplay
"
Faculty Film Director and Editor Win Honors at Pan African Film Festival
Legendary television producer Steven Bochco speaks to CTVA 350 class