PA named a top market for filmmaking jobs
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently published an article about the ripe opportunities available to filmmakers in the state and region. Through a study commissioned by The Entertainment Economy Institute of Los Angeles, Pa. ranked sixth in the nation for national movie industry employment. The study also found that 64 percent of work occurs in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Read more…
Cinema student photograph selected as finalist in the 29th Annual College Photography Contest
A photograph taken by Cinema senior Glen Richards during a recent G-20 summit protest march in Pittsburgh was selected as a finalist in the 29th Annual College Photography Contest, hosted by 'Photographer's Forum' magazine and Nikon. There were over 13,000 entries from around the world, and all finalists will have their photographs published in a the hardcover book 'Best of College Photography 2010', to be released summer 2010. Congratulations, Glen!
CLICK HERE to view Glen's photo on Flickr.
Cinema and Digital Arts Trailer Contest
Noel Schermaier won first place in the Cinema and Digital Arts Trailer Contest, with Dominique Curry taking second place. All Cinema students were invited to cut a 30 second trailer featuring clips from last year's Production 3, Production 4 and advanced projects. The trailer appears on the Cinema & Digital Arts website and was shown at the beginning of this year's end of semester screenings.
CLICK HERE to watch the first place and runner-up trailers.
Rob Lieber meets with Cinema & Screenwriting students
Screenwriter and Pittsburgh native Rob Lieber took some time out in November to meet with Point Park Cinema and Screenwriting students, while in town as a guest panelist for the Steeltown Entertainment Project's FILM FACTORY kickoff event. Lieber has written screenplays for Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema, Walden Media and MGM, and is currently developing the screenplay of "Septimus Heap: Magyk" for Warner Brothers. He spent a couple of hours talking with students about his experiences as a writer in Los Angeles, including advice for aspiring screenwriters on breaking into the business as a new writer, post-graduation.
What does trouble mean?
Cinema & Digital Arts students Noel Schermaier and Brittany Klesic, along with faculty member Andrew Halasz, did the post-production sound work for the Pittsburgh documentary "What Does Trouble Mean? Nate Smith's Revolution." Cinema & Digital Arts alumni Elise LaGamba, Jon Joseph and Donny Thomas produced the historical reenactments for the documentary. The hour long film premiered October 3rd as part of the inaugural events of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture center in downtown Pittsburgh.
Point Park Cinema student film wins "best comedy "
Heart of a Bee, written and directed by senior Dean Ciocca has been making the festival rounds. The short film has screened at several festivals around the country, having won best comedy at the Midwest 3-minute Film Festival. It will also screen here in Pittsburgh at the Three Rivers Film Festival this fall.
Read more about the film and watch online!
Jimmy Miller meets with Screenwriting students
October 2009 saw a very special guest visit to the Cinema & Digital Arts department: JIMMY MILLER of Los Angeles-based Mosaic Media. Miller - a leader in the entertainment industry - is native to Pittsburgh and an alumnus of Point Park University. He has represented and worked with such writers as Judd Apatow (Funny People, Knocked Up, 40 Year-Old Virgin) and Adam Mckay (Anchorman, Saturday Night Live, Talladega Nights); and his company has produced – among others - The Dark Knight, Talladega Nights, The International, She's Outta My League, Get Smart and Step Brothers. He spent the afternoon conversing with students and answering questions about his experiences as a Hollywood agent/producer, with specific focus on the art of screenwriting and it's challenges and rewards within the industry.
Cinema and Digital Arts 2009 Showcase DVD
Each Spring, the Cinema and Digital Arts faculty selects some of the year's strongest work to be included on this compilation. The DVD is sent out to studios, production companies, management agencies, and other industry contacts througout the country.