IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12-7-05
CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION
OFFICE
SILVER CITY—The
effort to establish a Digital Media Production program at Western New Mexico
University is off to a great start. WNMU
has partnered with the Tecnológico de Monterrey campuses in Queretaro and
Juarez, Mexico to offer a digital media program for students on both sides of
the border.
The classes of
WNMU students in Silver City and Mexico have collaborated on a film that will
be featured in the 6th Annual Santa Fe Film Festival on Saturday,
Dec. 10, at 12:30 p.m. near the Plaza in the Scottish Rites Temple, located in
Santa Fe. The film is titled “Desde el Tren: Reflejos y Expresiones de Mexico”
(From the Train: Reflections and Expressions of Mexico).
The Santa Fe Film Festival presents important world
cinema in a non-commercial context that represents aesthetic, critical and
entertainment standards. The festival premieres local New Mexican film, new
American and foreign film including revivals, retrospectives, independent productions
and mini-festivals. Santa Fe Film Festival organizers partner with educational
groups, schools and non-profits and also provide a forum for filmmakers,
critics, educators and historians.
In addition to
receiving hands-on experience in filmmaking and editing, the students spent the
day at the KRWG-TV studios on the New Mexico State University campus. The visit was hosted by KRWG General Manager
Bill Grigaliunas who showed students how a television station works and spoke
with them about producing content for television.
At a lunch
hosted by Grigaliunas at KRWG-TV, students were given the opportunity to
“pitch” program ideas they would like to produce. Jeremy Kinter, a WNMU transfer student from
the College of Santa Fe “pitched” Grigaliunas with a program proposal he and
fellow student, Abbey Hyrn, would like to produce. The program they proposed is
a 20-minute made-for-TV drama called “Plasticity.” Grigaliunas offered to
review their initial footage to determine if it is something that can be aired
on public television in southern New Mexico.
The
students are also scheduled to meet with the Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque
on Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. The group will also
visit the Albuquerque Film Commission and tour film sets in the area.
The
donated rooms and passes for students participating in the Santa Fe Film
Festival were made possible through the efforts of Danielle Duran of the State
International Trade Office and John Armijo of the State Film Office. John
Bowman, the Editor of New Mexico Magazine is the Chairman of the Santa Fe Film
Festival. He provided the students with full access film festival passes.
The students
participating in this program include Hector Falcon, Tecnológico de Monterrey;
Arturo Chacon, University of Latin America; Brenda Robles, Tecnológico de
Monterrey; Abbey Hyrn, WNMU; Jeremy Kinter, WNMU; Casey Mike, WNMU; and Tyler
Bingham, WNMU.
“It is my hope
that our digital media courses are equally accessible to students on campus and
to students who can join us via distance or in the evening. We don’t expect to
recreate a traditional film school. Digital Media is causing old models of
teaching to adapt in the new media environment. Many of today’s filmmakers and
multimedia developers must function in digital domain,” said Baker. “In Silver City we have a unique community
that is filled with creative minds. It is much easier to teach tools than it is
to teach creativity. We want to help our students gain proficiency using
digital tools that are industry standards for creative professionals. We are
already working with industry partners (Adobe, Macromedia, Apple) so our
students can attain generally accepted industry certifications as part of their
degree path. If we can do that, then we help creative people increase their
overall potential and their employability.”
For more
information on the digital media production program at WNMU, contact Baker at
505-538-6301.
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