Semester-In-The-Air Invites Students of All Ages to Travel Around the World Making Their Own Movies, the Trip of a Lifetime
Students shoot "on-location" for 6 weeks while traveling to Ghana, South Africa, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Costa Rica as part of a 12 week semester in the spring, summer or fall of 2005.
Williamstown, MA (PRWEB via PR Web
Direct) August 25, 2004 -- The Pritchard School of Digital Arts ( www.pritchardschool.com
) announced today that it is accepting applications for new students for its
2005 Semester-In-The-Air Digital Filmmaking Program. The 12 week program is
offered in the spring, summer and fall of 2005. The program is designed for film
students and aspiring filmmakers of all ages to produce their own movie. These
movies will be filmed during a 6 week filmmaking trip, an adventure around the
world. Only 25 students are accepted each semester on a first come, first serve
basis. Students must be at least 18 years old and willing to travel. These
candidates are selected on their vision and enthusiasm for becoming a filmmaker.
Students can apply online and learn more about the program by going to www.semesterintheair.com .
"The independent film scene
for digital filmmakers is thriving in all parts of the world and is definitely
the future of traditional film and television," said John Pritchard, president
of Pritchard School of Digital Arts. "We believe we offer an exceptional 21st
century learning experience for students eager to produce their first
professional-quality movie in a 3 month timeframe."
AN AMAZING FILMMAKING
ADVENTURE (7 countries in 44 days)
The Semester-in-the-Air program is an
excellent opportunity for students to gain a solid foundation in filmmaking by
learning how to plan, shoot, and edit "on location”. With their own digital
video camera, students film master drummers in Ghana, go on a safari in South
Africa, discover the amazing culture of Thailand, experience the magical arts
and music of Bali, interview Maori tattoo artists in New Zealand, develop film
editing skills in Tahiti, and in Costa Rica, film dolphins, the Arenal volcano,
and wildlife in the majestic Monteverde cloud forest. Special events, important
locations, and interview sessions with creative artists and other local people
are all pre-scheduled. Everything is taken care of so the students can
completely focus on making their movie. They get an amazing hands-on experience
and learn the essential components of producing a professional documentary film.
The primary aim of Semester-in-the-Air [ http://www.semesterintheair.com is to help students develop
confidence as a filmmaker and make a great movie to advance their career. While
students learn technical skills in filmmaking, the emphasis is on learning how
to tell a visually engaging story with sound, music and the moving image.
12 WEEKS TO DEVELOP PRACTICAL SKILLS & MAKE A GREAT
MOVIE
Semester-in-the-Air requires a 12 week commitment to learn digital
filmmaking skills while making movies that increase awareness about global
culture, wildlife, nature, and the creative arts. After 3 weeks of online
pre-production from their home, students depart together from New York City on a
6 week filmmaking adventure. Working together in small production units,
students help produce one another's film. Upon returning home, students continue
the film editing process and are guided in the 3 week post-production process to
complete their film. In addition, students create a promotional web site and a
DVD master of their movie that is ready for commercial duplication. After
successfully completing the program, students receive a Certificate in Digital
Filmmaking and a letter of recommendation for employment opportunities. Each
student film is showcased on the school website and also entered in the Resfest
Digital Film Festival.
LEARN FROM THE PROS ON A 6 WEEK TRIP
The
Semester-in-the-Air [ http://www.semesterintheair program is led by two
award-winning professionals: school founder, John Pritchard, and world-class
filmmaker, Riley Morton. John has been a pioneer in digital filmmaking since its
conception in 1991 and has worked with ad agencies and Fortune 500 clients such
as Ogilvy & Mather, BBDO, Apple Computer, Microsoft, Time-Warner, Sony, and
CBS. He has also produced documentaries, music videos, live concert web casts,
DVDs, and award-winning digital film-based websites for celebrities such as John
Lennon and others in the entertainment industry. He has led educational trips to
destinations all over the world and received his first filmmaking grant to
travel to mainland China in 1983. His latest film "NOVUS," about the great
scientist Nikola Tesla, can be previewed at www.vyzmusic.com. Semester-in-the-Air Instructor, Riley
Morton, is a professional filmmaker and expert in on-location filmmaking. He has
produced films for the Discovery Channel, ABC Nightly News, NBC Today, and CNN.
He produced and directed the award-winning movie, "Found on Everest - Detectives
on the Top of The World". The film features the amazing Mt. Everest rescue of
four abandoned climbers at 28,500 feet: the second highest rescue in history. It
has been seen in film festivals around the world, from Telluride to Moscow.
Riley's films can be previewed at www.soulsticefilms.com.
ONE PRICE FOR EVERYTHING -
COMBINED TUITION & TRAVEL
All the expenses for movie production and
international travel have been combined with the costs of an exceptional
filmmaking education. Total fees for tuition and travel are $17,000. Tuition for
12 weeks of instruction is $5,500 which includes one-on-one and group
instruction, "hands-on" workshops, online training, and award-winning curriculum
materials and textbooks. The 6 week, all-inclusive travel package costs $11,500
which includes round-trip airfare from NYC to Ghana, South Africa, Thailand,
Bali, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Costa Rica; all ground transportation with
baggage handling and transfers; all hotel and sleeping accommodations; all meals
and gratuities; comprehensive travel insurance; and digital video production
costs that include "on-location" filming expenses for video interviews, 2-way
radios, special events, plane and helicopter rentals for aerial photography, and
additional filmmaking equipment. Not included in the travel package:
transportation between students' home and NYC; food and beverages outside of
group meals; deviations from the scheduled trip; laundry or room service;
telephone charges or other items of a personal nature. Three $1000 scholarships
are awarded to the most deserving students each semester. The school [ http://www.pritchardschool.com also invites corporations and
private donors to "sponsor a filmmaker" and make this once in a lifetime
filmmaking opportunity a dream come true for talented students who otherwise
could not participate.
WWW.SEMESTERINTHEAIR.COM
Semester-in-the-Air is truly a
one-of-a-kind filmmaking adventure that allows students to work closely with
professional filmmakers as they produce their own movie during a 12 week
semester. The comprehensive nature of the 6 week filmmaking trip provides an
unparalleled opportunity for students to not only make a great film, but to also
meet amazing people from all over the world. Further information about the
program, travel itinerary, frequently asked questions, and the application
process is available online at www.semesterintheair.com .
PRITCHARD SCHOOL OF DIGITAL
ARTS
Founded by award-winning digital artist, filmmaker, and educator John
Pritchard in 2001, The Pritchard School of Digital Arts exists to inspire
digital creativity. The school provides career training programs in digital
filmmaking, digital imaging and interactive design for the web and DVDs. The
school philosophy is centered on developing artistic talent and state-of-the-art
technological skills via projects that prepare students for success in the
workplace. The school also produces independent non-fiction films, web-based
career portfolios, and delivers digital consulting expertise to corporations,
small business and non-profit organizations. For more information, visit www.pritchardschool.com
.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
John Pritchard
Pritchard School of Digital
Arts
413-458-8768
1-800-561-0194
http://www.pritchardschool.com
http://www.semesterintheair.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb152483.htm