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NOTE: Students cannot take equipment out of the College or use equipment and facilities outside of class time unless indicated in the course description.

 

Introduction to Digital Filmmaking

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-1003-A
  • Day(s) M
  • Dates Jun 03 - Jul 29
  • Hours 06:00PM - 09:30PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 275.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

This course will take students through the production process for digital filmmaking while transforming your short story from the page to the screen. Students will learn technical skills and their application through a hands-on approach to camera, sound recording and lighting, as well as aesthetic choices for creating a scene. Working with actors and collaborating with a production crew will be included. Digital workflow will be discussed and demonstrated. Students will also work in teams during in-class shooting exercises, and are encouraged to collaborate for their own productions. Each student will script, direct, shoot and work with an editor to complete their own three-to-five minute digital project.
NOTE: Students can reserve digital cameras as specified by the instructor for home assignment.

Instructor

Frank Vitale

Audiovisual director, March of Dimes

Education:

BS, McGill University; MA, Manhattanville College

Feature films include:

Thunder Born; Montreal Main; East End Hustle; When Nature Calls; Joe; Cry Uncle; The Battle of Loves Return; Guess What We Learned in School Today; Silent Night, Bloody Night

Screenings include:

Whitney Museum of American Art, London Film Festival, San Francisco Museum of Art, American Film Institute, Mannheim Film Festival, Calgary Cinematheque, Locarno Film Festival, Museum of Modern Art

Awards include:

Gold Award, MarCom Creative; Gold Medal, International Davey Award; gold and silver awards, Telly; First Prize, San Francisco Film Festival; gold, silver and bronze awards, WorldFest Houston; Silver Plaque, Chicago Film Festival; Silver Award, Hugo; silver and bronze awards, Cindy; Communicator Crystal Award of Excellence; Red Ribbon, American Film Festival

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Production Crew Seminars

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-1037-A
  • Day(s) W
  • Dates Jun 12 - Aug 07
  • Hours 07:00PM - 09:00PM
  • Ceus 1.50
  • Cost 230.00
  • Additional Fees 0.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

This course presents students with the opportunity to speak directly with working professionals in the film industry and learn the inner workings of a production team. Emphasis will be placed on the responsibility of each craft toward the visual interpretation of a movie, focusing on the collaborations between the director and other production artists. Each week various production artists will visit and speak with you about what they do on the set, when they enter a production and what are their collaborations. Screenings of artists' work will be part of the class followed by a Q&A. Past speakers have included: sound recordist, Chris Newman (The Godfather, Amadeus, The English Patient), producer, Ron Bozman (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia), cinematographer Gordon Willis (The Godfather, Annie Hall, All the President's Men).

Instructor

Salvatore Petrosino

Director of operations, BFA Film, Video and Animation Department, School of Visual Arts

Education:

BFA, School of Visual Arts; Baruch College

Productions include:

Crossroads, Passions, They Used To Call It South Brooklyn, Isolation Tank. Commercials/industrials include: Heineken Beer, UN2, American Design Furniture Collection

Screenplays:

Moments of Mind, Seasonal Passages

 

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Introduction to Production Design

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-1082-A
  • Day(s) TH
  • Dates Jun 06 - Aug 08
  • Hours 06:00PM - 09:30PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 75.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

This course will focus on production design for the film industry. We will examine the responsibilities and collaborations of the production designer in detail. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding the psychology of film characters and how this influences the design of the set. Through visual research, scene analysis, photography and drawing, students will work on exploring and creating the production design for a cinematic scene.

Instructor

Simona Migliotti Auerbach

Production/set designer

Education:

BA, Sapienza Universita Di Roma

Film projects include:

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, La Seconda Notte di Nozze, The Conquering Knights, Enchanted, Morning Glory

Television projects include:

Rome (HBO), Il Sicomoro, Strange Love, Tickling

Awards include:

Best Italian Production Design, Chioma di Berenice Award; Premio di Qualita Prize, Italian Ministry of Culture; Berlin Film Festival

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Specialty Costume Creations for Film and Television

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-1874-A
  • Day(s) W
  • Dates Jun 05 - Aug 14
  • Hours 06:00PM - 09:00PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 185.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 214 East 21st Street

Description

In the rapidly changing entertainment industry, actors need to look more authentic, alien, futuristic or bestial: think Batman, Lady Gaga and the Wolfman. At the same time, actors need to understand how costumes help to define the personality of their characters. Through the pounds of face makeup, body armor, muscle suits, prosthetics and mechanics, a character comes to life. In this course, students will learn the three basic techniques used for most specialty costume manufacturing (sculpture, molds and castings) to create a one-of-a-kind costume piece. Demonstrations include body-casting techniques, silicone mold, casting techniques, urethane casting and painting techniques.

Instructor

Carl Philip Paolino

Producer; director; screenwriter; special effects designer for Antidote Films, Inc.; Carl Paolino Studios, Inc.; Pranksta Films LLC

EDUCATION:

 BFA, School of Visual Arts

PRODUCER, DIRECTOR:

 The Halloween Pranksta, The Wrong Coast, The Sickness



COMMERCIAL CREDITS INCLUDE:

Celebrity Deathmatch, Victoria’s Secret, Saturday Night Live, Nintendo, Burger King, MTV Video Music Awards

 

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Directing

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-2040-A
  • Day(s) W
  • Dates Jun 05 - Aug 14
  • Hours 06:30PM - 09:30PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 110.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

Designed as a multifaceted immersion into directing, this course will explore the principles of drama in the film medium, as well as define the responsibilities, methods and craft of the director. Directorial strategies used in feature film and the short form will be examined. We begin by studying published and produced works to investigate the dramatic input inspired by the director/ actor collaboration. Through a series of exercises, the course will examine topics that include: how to break down the screenplay as a whole and as individual scenes; prepare a director's statement; rehearse, block and shape a scene within the context of the entire screenplay. Working with professional actors, we will address how to lead rehearsals and the film set environment. The actors' creative contributions will be discussed and analyzed. Film language choices and directing the camera will be explored as charactershaping and directorial approach components. Students may work with screenplays by other writers or use their own works.

Instructor

Todd Stephens

Producer, writer, director

Education:

BFA, New York University

Films include:

Edge of Seventeen, Gypsy 83, Another Gay Movie

Film festival screenings include:

Sundance, Tribeca, Seattle International

Awards include:

"One of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film," Filmmaker; Best Screenplay/Feature Film, Outfest Los Angeles; Best Director, Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival; "Out 100," Out

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Film Scoring

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-2061-A
  • Day(s) F
  • Dates Jun 14 - Jul 26
  • Hours 06:00PM - 09:00PM
  • Ceus 1.50
  • Cost 210.00
  • Additional Fees 0.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

The basic production aspects of creating and producing a film score will be the focus of this course. The musical representation for a film's dramatic themes and characters will be studied with an emphasis on the director-composer relationship. Topics include: creating the central and other themes, how different forms of music are used (from a full orchestral score to source soundtracks), the spotting session, postproduction responsibilities and the overall hierarchy of the film-music process. A variety of cinematic scenes will be screened in class. For a final project, each student will select a short scene of their choice and score it with a piece of music (original or chosen) that works for the film. Students can 'temp track' their final projects or provide their own recorded music.

Instructor

Ernie Mannix

Composer

Education:

BFA, Long Island University

Film scores include:

The Deli, Men Lie, The Cottonwood, Kampung Boy

Music editor on:

How to Eat Fried Worms; Love Comes to the Executioner; Hellboy; Herbie: Fully Loaded (scoring); Smallville; Eyes; Supernatural; Big Love; Tiger Cruise; Darkness Falls (special edition); Soldier’s Girl

Award:

Golden Reel Award, Motion Picture Sound Editors

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Special FX Makeup and Silicone Prosthetics for Television and Film

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-2243-A
  • Day(s) M
  • Dates Jun 03 - Aug 05
  • Hours 06:00PM - 09:00PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 225.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 214 East 21st Street

Description

Bring horror, sci-fi and fantasy characters to life. Learn how professional Hollywood makeup artists create fictional characters for TV and feature films. In this course, students will be introduced to the basic gore-and-accident-victim effects as well as some of the groundbreaking silicone prosthetic makeup FX techniques. Demonstrations will include how to life cast a model and the proper uses of unusual mold-making and casting materials.

Instructor

Carl Philip Paolino

Producer; director; screenwriter; special effects designer for Antidote Films, Inc.; Carl Paolino Studios, Inc.; Pranksta Films LLC

EDUCATION:

 BFA, School of Visual Arts

PRODUCER, DIRECTOR:

 The Halloween Pranksta, The Wrong Coast, The Sickness



COMMERCIAL CREDITS INCLUDE:

Celebrity Deathmatch, Victoria’s Secret, Saturday Night Live, Nintendo, Burger King, MTV Video Music Awards

 

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Make it Real: Directing Scripted Reality TV

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-2409-A
  • Day(s) T
  • Dates Jun 04 - Aug 06
  • Hours 07:00PM - 10:00PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 0.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

So-called "reality TV" is a dominating presence on cable television. Good, bad or ugly, the increasing number of these shows means increasing opportunities for filmmakers. This course will explore how these shows are made, and examine the nuts and bolts of getting "real" people to transform themselves into the bigger-than-life characters that the medium demands. We will focus on "scripted reality" techniques, in which the director uses pre-scripted stories to drive scenes and create cohesive and engaging stories. This process, while a unique way to engage in storytelling, is applicable to aspiring reality directors as well as directors working in other mediums or genres.

Instructor

Dakkan Abbe

Writer, producer, director

Education:

BA, cum laude, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Film and television projects include:

Big Bucks, Swamp’d, The First 48, Flip This House, Inside the Tuscan Hills, Little Miss Perfect, Fat Chef, Jessie and Jill

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Creating a Documentary Film

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-3027-A
  • Day(s) W
  • Dates Jun 05 - Aug 14
  • Hours 07:00PM - 09:30PM
  • Ceus 2.50
  • Cost 335.00
  • Additional Fees 200.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

In this digital age, it is widely believed that all that is needed to make a film is a camera and a laptop. By emphasizing storytelling and character development, this comprehensive and pragmatic course will give students the necessary tools to produce a truly compelling documentary. Through hands-on exercises, screenings and analysis of a variety of documentary films, students will be immersed in some of the key elements of documentary production. Topics will include research, proposal writing, interviewing and shooting techniques, handling "hot" situations and product distribution. Each student will shoot a short individual documentary on digital video. While editing techniques will be discussed, access to editing software is not included in this course.

Instructor

Frederick Rendina

Producer, director

Education:

BFA, Emerson College

Films include:

To Educate a Girl; Turning the Tide: Tsunami Volunteers; Utopia; A Gang for Good; After the Gun; Kabi; Let the Good Times Roll…Again; Secrets of the Soul

Projects include:

Wide Angle series; 5 Takes series; National Geographic on Assignment

Clients include:

PBS, Travel Channel, Discovery, NHK Japan, Associated Press Television News, A&E, Lorber HT Digital/Alive Mind, United Nations, Link TV, RAI Italy

Awards and grants include:

National Endowment for the Arts; Panavision New Filmmaker; New York State Council on the Arts; Tony Cox Screenwriting Award, Showtime/Nantucket Film Festival; Audience Award, Film Fest New Haven; Experimental Television Center; Independent Images Award, WHYY-TV; Bronze Apple, National Educational Film and Video Festival

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Cinematography

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-3034-A
  • Day(s) M,W
  • Dates Jun 10 - Jul 08
  • Hours 06:00PM - 10:00PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 410.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

Through screenings and in-class exercises, this course will be a study of different cinematographic techniques and lighting effects for film and digital media. Topics include the functions of light; the blending of light and shadow for interiors and exteriors; and experiments with exposure under different lighting conditions, ranging from available light to your own lighting setup, enforcing the context of your scene. Topics to be discussed and demonstrated include exposure, film stock, composition, movement, continuity, color and lenses. Arri 16-SR1 and Panasonic HMC-150 cameras will be used in this course.

Instructor

Igor Sunara

Director of photography

Education:

BA honors, University of Westminster

Films include:

The Mercy of the Sea, The Keeper, On the Run, Peroxide Passion, Cetverored, Forbidden Love, Somewhere in the City, Cop Land (2nd unit), Misplaced, Tripwire, Erotic Tales (segment: Vroom Vroom Vroom), Love or Money. Short films include: The Landscaper's Daughter, The Houseguest, Point of View, Crossroads. Documentary films include: Searching For Orson, Tanaquil Le Clercq, Heart of a Legend: Chico O'Farrill, Eliot Porter's World, American Dream (additional photography)

Television credits include:

Til Death Do Us Part (pilot), Il Giardino Armonico (parts I and II), Jerusalem Syndrome, Of Penguins and Peacocks. Commericals include: Kodak, AT&T, Bell South, Reebok, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Suave 93.1 FM, Be Smart About HIV

Music videos include:

Rod Stewart, Lil' Kim, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, Ruben Blades, John Cale & Lou Reed, Barry Manilow

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Advanced Cinematography

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-3036-A
  • Day(s) T,TH
  • Dates Jun 11 - Jul 09
  • Hours 06:00PM - 10:00PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 410.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

This course will examine three interrelated areas of cinematography that are essential to the realization of the dramatic demands of the script: previsualization of the script, viewpoints and coverage, lighting and post works. Through demonstrations and hands-on projects, students will explore sophisticated lighting techniques for film and digital cinematography. How to translate ideas into pictures, and experimentation with varied lighting styles to create specific moods and images for interiors and exteriors will be addressed. In-camera effects, lenses, emulsion, exposure, contrast, camera placement, composition, movement, continuity, color, managing the crew and post liaison will also be covered. Arri-S16/ SR2 camera, Sony PMW-EX1, Super speed lenses, Dolly, Jib arm, Butterfly, Kino-Flo, Tungsten and HMI lights will be used in class.
PREREQUISITE: CFC-3034, Cinematography, or equivalent. You may also submit a cinematography demonstration reel for evaluation prior to the beginning of the course.

Instructor

Igor Sunara

Director of photography

Education:

BA honors, University of Westminster

Films include:

The Mercy of the Sea, The Keeper, On the Run, Peroxide Passion, Cetverored, Forbidden Love, Somewhere in the City, Cop Land (2nd unit), Misplaced, Tripwire, Erotic Tales (segment: Vroom Vroom Vroom), Love or Money. Short films include: The Landscaper's Daughter, The Houseguest, Point of View, Crossroads. Documentary films include: Searching For Orson, Tanaquil Le Clercq, Heart of a Legend: Chico O'Farrill, Eliot Porter's World, American Dream (additional photography)

Television credits include:

Til Death Do Us Part (pilot), Il Giardino Armonico (parts I and II), Jerusalem Syndrome, Of Penguins and Peacocks. Commericals include: Kodak, AT&T, Bell South, Reebok, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Suave 93.1 FM, Be Smart About HIV

Music videos include:

Rod Stewart, Lil' Kim, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, Ruben Blades, John Cale & Lou Reed, Barry Manilow

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Directing: Mastering Camera Techniques

Course Details
  • Course Number CFC-3037-A
  • Day(s) T,TH
  • Dates Jun 11 - Jul 09
  • Hours 01:00PM - 05:00PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 395.00
  • Additional Fees 100.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 209 East 23rd Street

Description

This course is designed to explore the collaboration between the director and cinematographer. If cinematography is considered to be an interpretative art form, then what is the role of the camera in storytelling? How do we translate a text visually? Learning the language of visual art is more than just learning the differences between subjective and objective camera angles. It is the process of taking ideas, words, actions, emotional subtext, tone and other forms of nonverbal communication and rendering them in visual terms. Shot design, composition, rhythm, continuity, lensing, perspective, blocking and color, and how light shapes human perception are all creative options available to interpret the director's vision.
PREREQUISITES: CFC-1003, Digital Production, and CFC-3036, Advanced Cinematography, or a show reel that indicates a basic proficiency in filmmaking.

Instructor

Igor Sunara

Director of photography

Education:

BA honors, University of Westminster

Films include:

The Mercy of the Sea, The Keeper, On the Run, Peroxide Passion, Cetverored, Forbidden Love, Somewhere in the City, Cop Land (2nd unit), Misplaced, Tripwire, Erotic Tales (segment: Vroom Vroom Vroom), Love or Money. Short films include: The Landscaper's Daughter, The Houseguest, Point of View, Crossroads. Documentary films include: Searching For Orson, Tanaquil Le Clercq, Heart of a Legend: Chico O'Farrill, Eliot Porter's World, American Dream (additional photography)

Television credits include:

Til Death Do Us Part (pilot), Il Giardino Armonico (parts I and II), Jerusalem Syndrome, Of Penguins and Peacocks. Commericals include: Kodak, AT&T, Bell South, Reebok, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Suave 93.1 FM, Be Smart About HIV

Music videos include:

Rod Stewart, Lil' Kim, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, Ruben Blades, John Cale & Lou Reed, Barry Manilow

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DSLR Filmmaking

Course Details
  • Course Number CVC-3021-A
  • Day(s) W
  • Dates Jun 05 - Jul 10
  • Hours 06:30PM - 09:30PM
  • Ceus 1.50
  • Cost 540.00
  • Additional Fees 0.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 23 Lexington Ave

Description

Through a process of hands-on exercises and exploration, this course will explore DSLR cinematography, directing and basic editing on the Apple Final Cut Pro platform. We will look at how the DSLR can be utilized as a tool in professional film and television production as well as in viral marketing campaigns on the Web.
PREREQUISITE: SWC-1012, Macintosh Basics, or equivalent.
NOTE: Please bring a digital SLR camera that shoots 1080 HD video to the first session.

Instructor

Gabriel Wilson

Director, cinematographer, photographer

Education:

BA, Tufts University; MPS, School of Visual Arts

Films include:

The Lemon, John School. Advertising videos for: Pelle Pelle Jeans, HarperCollins, Macmillan, LEE, French Toast, LT Apparel Group. Cinematography for: Quicksilver, IBM, GOOD, Mashable. Photography for: Revel in New York, J/Hadley Jewlery, Applico, Kitt&Lux

Festival appearances include:

Big Apple Film Festival, Gotham Screen International Film Festival, Great Lakes International Film Festival, GIAA Film Festival, Brooklyn Short Film Concert, New Filmmakers

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DSLR Filmmaking for the Still Photographer

Course Details
  • Course Number CVC-3023-A
  • Day(s) W
  • Dates Jul 17 - Aug 14
  • Hours 06:30PM - 09:30PM
  • Ceus 1.50
  • Cost 540.00
  • Additional Fees 0.00
  • Status Open
  • Location 23 Lexington Ave

Description

This workshop is designed for photographers who are interested in transitioning to filmmaking. Using the digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR)-an essential tool for the contemporary filmmaker- we will cover such areas as directing for the DSLR, lighting and sound solutions as well as basic editing on the Apple Final Cut Pro platform. In addition, we will take a close look at the similarities between still and video from both the business and creative sides. We will also explore how the DSLR is used as a tool in professional film and television production as well as in viral marketing campaigns on the Web.
PREREQUISITES: SWC-1012, Macintosh Basics, and PHC-1042, Digital Photography I, or equivalents.
NOTE: Please bring a digital SLR camera that shoots 1080 HD video to the first session.

Instructor

Gabriel Wilson

Director, cinematographer, photographer

Education:

BA, Tufts University; MPS, School of Visual Arts

Films include:

The Lemon, John School. Advertising videos for: Pelle Pelle Jeans, HarperCollins, Macmillan, LEE, French Toast, LT Apparel Group. Cinematography for: Quicksilver, IBM, GOOD, Mashable. Photography for: Revel in New York, J/Hadley Jewlery, Applico, Kitt&Lux

Festival appearances include:

Big Apple Film Festival, Gotham Screen International Film Festival, Great Lakes International Film Festival, GIAA Film Festival, Brooklyn Short Film Concert, New Filmmakers

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Producing and Directing Ads for the Internet

Course Details
  • Course Number CVC-3026-A
  • Day(s) TH
  • Dates Jun 06 - Aug 15
  • Hours 06:30PM - 09:30PM
  • Ceus 3.00
  • Cost 720.00
  • Additional Fees 0.00
  • Status Open
  • Location To Be Announced

Description

In this course, we will create dynamic and professional advertisements geared toward Internet presentation. Students will enhance their skills in directing, digital cinematography and basic editing on the Apple Final Cut Pro platform. We will explore viral marketing campaigns and study how video is transformed through social media outlets, such as Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and LinkedIn. Throughout the semester, students will workshop their own projects and create cutting-edge commercials for themselves and/or their clients. Topics to be discussed include lighting and audio solutions, directing actors, camera choice, editing workflow, video sharing and social media outlets.
PREREQUISITES: SWC-1012, Macintosh Basics, and PHC-1042, Digital Photography I, or equivalents.
NOTE: Please bring a digital SLR camera that shoots 1080 HD video to the first session.

Instructor

Gabriel Wilson

Director, cinematographer, photographer

Education:

BA, Tufts University; MPS, School of Visual Arts

Films include:

The Lemon, John School. Advertising videos for: Pelle Pelle Jeans, HarperCollins, Macmillan, LEE, French Toast, LT Apparel Group. Cinematography for: Quicksilver, IBM, GOOD, Mashable. Photography for: Revel in New York, J/Hadley Jewlery, Applico, Kitt&Lux

Festival appearances include:

Big Apple Film Festival, Gotham Screen International Film Festival, Great Lakes International Film Festival, GIAA Film Festival, Brooklyn Short Film Concert, New Filmmakers

View Profile »

 
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  • Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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    New Angles

    The Whitney Museum has launched a new graphic identity conceived by Dutch design studio Experimental Jetset.  It appears to be anchored on a slender, ricocheted form they call the “responsive W.”...

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    Northern Lights

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  • Tuesday, May 7, 2013

    Weld Done

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    Check out How Things Are Made, curated by Sam Gordon, at Spot Welders.  Spot Welders is a busy post-production studio in a new space designed by 1100 Architects with custom furniture by Roy...

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