News
Event at CDIA
Last night's Film and Audio Industry Observations event was fantastic! We had some very big names for guest speakers including Jay Rose (Dplay), Michael Phillips (Avid), Geoff Briggs (Productive Media), Kat Baker (Finish Editorial) and Zach McNees (Freelance Audio Engineer). Students and alumni were really amazed at how each speaker was willing to share personal experiences and offer advice on how they too can gain success in their field. A highlight: several speakers showed Before and After demos of their work, which really enlightened and encouraged everyone. Stay tuned for our next Career Services event in the Fall!
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Ruff Cutz Film Festival
at CDIA
It's official! CDIA - Waltham will be hosting the second annual Ruff Cutz Indie Film Conference. The conference will take place from November 14–16 and will include screenings (submit your entires!), vendor show and workshops. For more information visit www.rcifc.com.
CDIA staff, students and alumni are eligible to receive 50% off a full conference pass; visit RCIFC for details. And... receive 40% off entry fees for your film submissions; click here for details.
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on PBS Tonight
CDIA DC Film Practicum Instructor Jeanine Butler's new film, "Documenting the Face of America: Roy Stryker and the F.S.A./O.W.I. Photographers" airs tonight on PBS! An article in today's NY Times goes in-depth with a description of the piece.
http://documentingamerica.org/Home.html
http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/
Tune in everyone, and congratulations, Jeanine!
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DC Campus Digital Filmmaking Instructor Ted Duvall has been working for several months on a project finally ready for prime-time. This Thursday, August 7 at 8pm on the Discovery Channel marks the first installment of the second season of Some Assembly Required, a G-rated smash hit, fun for the whole family and undeniably destined to become a television legacy. Tell a friend, invite the neighbors, have a party, set your TiVo, and be prepared to be entertained.
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Digital Tap is a small independent studio that creates animated films for kids. And they have just teamed up with CDIA-Walthams 3D Animation Department to create models for their latest project, Whiz Kids. Having heard about the talent in our classrooms, the studio has asked the students to create some prop, environment and other models for use in their full-length, straight-to-DVD feature animation. Students whose model(s) are chosen for the film will not only have their names appear in the credits, but a to-be-determined prize will be awarded by CDIA. How great is this?! Good luck, everyone!
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in the Studio with Local MC
MC Hazedous, a female rapper from Dorchester, MA, tapped CDIA Audio Production student Lacey Bowens to record her song, I Gotcha. Lacey also did some additional production on the track in the main CDIA studio. The song got some air play earlier this year on popular Boston radio station, JAMN 94.5. "Right now I'm mostly making beats for other MCs," she said. "But I'm also working on starting a radio station next year in Maine. And, of course, always looking for local artists and talent to produce beats for."
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An Amazing Experience
CDIA's film and photo workshops in Prague are just moving into their final week of instruction and field work. During the past month, participants, accompanied by CDIA instructors, have explored Prague's historic district, filming and photographing material for their projects, which have included: a short film about a group of artisans replacing a large stained glass window in one of Prague's famous churches; a photographic report on the city's landmarks; a documentary on old and new housing in the area; and a photo shoot on historic Charles Bridge.
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and Graphic Designer
Ellen Lupton at CDIA
Over 150 graphic & web designers from the DC area came to CDIA Georgetown to hear Ellen Lupton speak about design and type. Ellen is a writer, curator, and graphic designer, and director of the Graphic Design MFA program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore. She also serves as director of the Center for Design Thinking. As curator of contemporary design at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum since 1992, she has produced numerous exhibitions and books, including Mechanical Brides: Women and Machines from Home to Office (1993), Mixing Messages: Graphic Design and Contemporary Culture (1996), Letters from the Avant-Garde (1996), and Skin: Surface, Substance + Design(2002). CDIA evenuses her textbooks in our Graphic & Web Design program!
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Paula Scher, a partner in the renowned design firm Pentagram, has an international reputation 
for her typography, and is best known for her work for Columbia Records, NY Public Theater and Bloomberg Tower. On July 21 at CDIA Georgetown, she gave a full-day hands-on workshop on typography - an unprecedented opportunity to work with a graphic design master. Thanks to the Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington, the workshop sold out immediately. We can't wait to host more of these great events; check out the photos! (Illustration 2008 Robert Meganck)
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Take a look at what just some of our successful grads have been up to:
Filmmaking grad Erin Gallagher recently finished her assistant editor contract with WGBH, the single largest producer of PBS programming: “I still can't believe I got the job! What an amazing opportunity - a huge challenge but worth every second.”
Besides shooting as a staff photographer for ATVriders.com, Garrett Hamilton is carving out a nice freelance business for himself: “I have been doing work for Factory Kawasaki in California! They have been using my images for in-house marketing and research.” Check out :www.garretthamilton.shutterchance.com
Jon Adams, who finished his 3D Animation certificate in May 2008, has accepted a position as 3D Modeler/AutoCAD Technician at DJS Associates in Pennsylvania: “I am very excited to begin more of an 'official' career journey.”
Kristen Foresto is now the Graphic & Web Design intern at Mass Audubon: “They were very excited to find someone with my unique qualifications and knowledge of the organization that they made a position here for me.”
Freelancer Scott DeFusco is obsessed with sound design. Career Services helped him land a killer gig after he finished the Audio Production program: “I am now working on my third project for LinePlot Productions - part of a seven-piece animation series for http://www.reason.tv"
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Digital Filmmaking Program Co-Director Federico Muchnik has won a 2008 Telly Award for his use of humor in a corporate/industrial video. Customer Service to the Rescue was written and directed by Muchnik for Enterprise Media, a Cambridge-based distributor of videos for the workplace.
Photography Co-Director Rob Van Petten has recently been selected as the keynote speaker at the Professional Photographers of America Convention. The event, which will be held in Phoenix in January 2009, provides a forum for professionals to network with and to learn from the best photographers in the world.
Our very own 3D Animation Program Director Howard Kaplan makes the news with an amazing look at just one of the ways animation works: bostonherald.com
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The mayhem returns! Approximately 60 dogs will descend upon CDIA on August 24 from 12:30–4:30pm for their close-ups at "Pimp My Pug 2" and the newly added "Chihuahua-Palooza."
The event, organized by Cheryl Colombo Photography, is a benefit to raise funds for Pug Rescue of New England (PRONE) and Yankee Chihuahua Rescue. Proud dog owners will have the opportunity to have professional images made of their "babies" in exchange for a donation to the rescue.
If anyone has a pug or chihuahua and would like to join the fun, please email to RSVP: cheryl_colombo@yahoo.com.
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Associate Director Blake Metzler was recently the Featured Artist in a blog interview on 3DVIA. Check out all the details at: www.3dvia.com/blog/2008/07/02/featured-artist-blake-metzler/
Also featured recently was instructor Pete Anderson. His interview even showcased at 3DVIA's DevCon booth:www.3dvia.com/blog/2008/06/17/featured-artist-peter-anderson/.
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On May 10, CDIA hosted a 24-hour animation marathon devoted exclusively to completing a 3D animation Practicum project for Children's Hospital Boston, an animated short titled The Adventures of Zak and Dakota, the story of a child battling cancer.
Students and alumni produced about one month's work in just under 24 hours. Though people fell asleep and team members departed, sometimes suddenly, and the work was immense... they knocked this project out of the park. Five teams participated; their work was judged at four major critique rounds where points were awarded at each round. The winning team was awarded an assortment of animation books. Not only did they work, but they also played: Guitar Hero, a confessional room, hacky sack and DJ Kinetic keeping the crowd amped.
Special thanks to everyone who participated and planned this successful event.
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CDIA Digital Filmmaking alumni Erin Gallagher, currently working at WGBH, scored a mini-interview in Student Filmmaker magazine. Check it out on page 56 in the latest issue.
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CDIA film students had a stellar weekend as they showcased some of the school's best film projects at the Independent Film Festival of Boston. Students - like Josh Roberts and Corey Sheehan - and alumni also worked as videographers covering the events, screenings and panel discussions. One part-time film class also made Saturday's festivities part of their “Documentary Camera and The Interview” module, allowing them to shoot…and shoot some more. Many attended panel discussions like "Breaking into the Film Business in Boston" and parties hosted by Finish Editorial and Soundtrack Studios. A great event for the entire CDIA community!
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On Wednesday, April 23, 3D Associate Director Blake Metzler gathered with a mix of full- and part-time students from different CDIA programs, as well as many visitors, for a 3D Architecture Night demonstration. The demo introduced participants to the exciting technique of creating a QTVR (Quicktime Virtual Reality). These interactive movies allow users to view panoramic images in a dynamic way. Both 3D scenes and stitched images were used to create the QTVRs, and all of the free downloadable software was explained and demoed to an enthusiastic audience.
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How do you break into the wedding photography industry? This was the question addressed at CDIA’s first special topic seminar, Breaking into the Biz. Over 150 CDIA photography students and alumni turned out for the Career Services’ event, which featured guest speakers talking about their experiences and answer questions. Everything from pricing to guerilla marketing to business banking to…well, see it for yourself!
For more information, click here to view the podcast.
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World class professional musicians mixed with Audio Production students, filling CDIA's new recording studio for a unique jam session to kick off the semester.
For more information, click here to view the podcast.
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Pictage User Group at CDIA
Pictage, the country's premier provider of online photo sharing and professional photography services, is hosting their monthly Boston Pictage User Group (PUG) meeting here at CDIA! Your hosts Matt and Enna Grazier of Grazier Photography have graciously invited CDIA photography students and alumni to attend - for free!
Come by Studio C at 7:30pm on Tuesday, March 11 to meet and greet local Professional Wedding Photographers, find out about potential assisting opportunities, and watch a demo for ShootQ: Innovative Studio Management Software by Eric Laurits.
Enter to win fabulous door prizes and enjoy light refreshments. And remember to bring your business cards and portfolios.
Students and alumni: RSVP to Lara in Career Services by March 10
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The PRC at Boston University is holding its annual Student Exhibition from February 8th - March 16th, 2008.
Student work from all 18 member schools will be featured, including work from CDIA’s own Rob Reiman, Sandy Mallalieu, Damian Hickey, Jennifer Bodner and Kristen Schuler. Come show your support at the Opening Reception this Thursday, February 7, 5:30–7:30pm.
For more information visit Photographic Resource Center at Boston University.
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Our very own Andrew Britton, 3D Instructor and Autodesk Certified Instructor of Maya, has been tapped by Hasbro for an interesting assignment. On February 18, he will be teaching ZBrush to some of the D+D artists at their Pawtucket, Rhode Island HQ. The team is looking to learn the software program in order to rapid prototype their concepts, which will help to design and approve toys faster. ZBrush is a digital sculpting program that has been used in movies like Pirates of the Caribbean to make sea-monster pirates, including the Captain with the cool tentacled beard. Why is Andrew so excited about this opportunity: "Hey, it's toys – should be a lot of fun! And they’ve offered to rapid prototype one of my 3D models, which will be very cool to have.” Come find him when he gets back to get the scoop on his experience.
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Upromise is providing the chance to win $25,000 for college in its Tuition Tales contest. Grab your camcorder and explain in 30 seconds why you deserve $25,000 towards college or to pay off a student loan. Be silly, sentimental or sarcastic. Create a video staring your two-year-old son, your mother-in-law…, your dog or yourself… just make sure to explain why you or someone you know deserves extra help in saving or paying for college. The more creative, entertaining or tear-jerking, the better. Video submissions can be uploaded at www.upromise.com/tuitiontales until March 23, 2008
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And the Winners Are...
Fox Architects – designers of the new DC campus space – recently sponsored a photography competition among CDIA DC students. They were asked to submit images of the space in any of three categories: Waiting Area, Reception and Shot of Choice highlighting any part of the school’s architecture.
The winners, selected by judges from Fox Architects and Trinity Construction, were announced earlier this month: Lawrence Luk (Waiting Area), Astri Wee (Reception) and Amin Rahnama (Shot of Choice). Not only did these students receive a cash prize for their work, but their credited images will also be included in a Fox Architects press release as well as company marketing materials and website.
Thanks to everyone who submitted images and participated in such a great event. And congratulations!
Photo by Amin Rahnama. 
Photo by Astri Wee.
Photo by Lawrence Luk.
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After a thirty-seven-day shoot, the independent feature “The Aristocrat” has wrapped principal photography. CDIA’s Associate Director of Digital Filmmaking Greg Croteau directed and co-wrote the unique combination dramatic comedy-psychological thriller, along with film instructor Richard Stack.
Other CDIA credits include shooting by film instructor Hillary Spera, lighting by alum Brian Dwiggins, and alum Rachel Luskin, producer. The film was also partially funded by CDIA. Said Luskin, “CDIA is one of our largest investors and our biggest supporter. Greg wore his CDIA hat everyday to remind us that we wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for the school.” The rest of the film’s outstanding crew was almost entirely comprised of CDIA alumni and current students.
Generating some buzz for the film, Boston’s local NPR station WBUR, recently did a piece about filmmaking in Boston using “The Aristocrat” to exemplify the thriving and innovative independent film scene.
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Get Your Tix: 12/4 Moe Money Benefit + Silent Auction. Free food! Free tee shirt! Awesome bands! Good cause!
Come support CDIA Career Services co-director Moe Lawson at the MOE MONEY BENEFIT CONCERT + SILENT AUCTION TO KILL CANCER. This is going to be huge and you'll want to be there.
Opening act and Emcee: comedy legend JIMMY TINGLE
Performing Bands: Self-Righteous Brothers, Electronic Laser People and TOWNSHIP
Silent Auction: Bid on some great stuff including personal trainer, restaurant gift cards, pole dancing lessons and even CELTICS TICKETS
Tuesday 12/4 from 6pm-midniteThe Skellig (240 Moody Street, Waltham)
Tickets: $25 ($30 at the door)
Must be 21+ with valid state photo ID required
CONTACT LARA FOR TICKETS:
800-808-CDIA or email:Lara@cdiabu.com
Visit Moe Money Benefit Blog site for more information.
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On Tuesday, November 13, the ASMP’s DC chapter held a special meeting at CDIA Georgetown where internationally renowned local photographers Sam Abell, David Burnett, Annie Griffiths Belt and Bruce Dale discussed their amazing careers before a packed house.
The panel of Legends discussed their careers and achievements and fielded questions from the crowd of over 150 attendees, who lined up into the corridor where they couldn't see but heard every word. CDIA Photography program co-director Cary Wolinsky served as host as the panel shared anecdotes and insider information on what has put them at the top of their profession.
Thanks to all attendees, ASMP organizers and members, as well as from the Legends themselves for making such a special evening. Special thanks to CDIA photography students Lawrence Luk, Nikki Davis, Justin Matthews and Meaghan Gay for their efforts.
Photo by Lawrence Luk.
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Audio Production Alum’s Work Nominated for Awards. As a class project, Audio Production alum Graham Tobias (Fall 06) was assigned to record a three-song demo. His band of choice: Atlas Soul, a Boston-based six-piece band performing original music celebrating Afro-Mediterranean cultures. They were so pleased with his work that they hired him to engineer their latest CD. Not only were they then nominated for a Boston Music Award for Outstanding World Music Act, but the track "Ana weyak" from that CD has made them a Finalist for an Independent Music Award. Great work, Graham!
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CDIA Georgetown hosts a once-in-a-lifetime event: a gathering of six icons of photography in the same room to discuss everything from creativity to marketing. Steve Uzzell will moderate a conversation with photographers Sam Abell, David Burnett, Annie Griffiths Belt, Bruce Dale and National Geographic's former Director of Photography Bob Gilka, as they discuss their careers and yours on Tuesday, November 13 starting at 6:30pm. You do not want to miss this special event.
Students (with valid ID): $5.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.asmpdc.org/venueinfo
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CDIA's filmmakers' first alumni networking event took place on Saturday, October 13, in Waltham. Attendees included Bob Daniels, CDIA executive director, Howard Philips, associate director of the filmmaking program, forty alumni and current students in the filmmaking program. Ruben Calderon, president of the newly formed CDIA filmmakers' alumni association planned and coordinated the event and hosted our speakers:
Maud Dillingham, Assistant Editor at GBH and a CDIA alum from the filmmaking department, showed clips from the show she currently works on. She emphasized the importance of networking before and after getting her job. She also illustrated her usual workflow and responsibilities in the post-production phase of the show, thus correlating her duties to her learning at CDIA. She also disseminated pointers on how to focus a career out there in the field. Her motto: "if you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready".
Eric MacDonald, President and CEO of Zhura, Inc. ( zhura.com) presented his web-based initiative, which facilitates collaboration among writers and producers. Similar to a wiki site, but suited for film producers and scriptwriters, Zhura allows collaborators to shape and edit scripts and ideas in an interactive way. This digital platform expedites editing and allows collaborators to focus on the creative process. Also, it identifies inputs from those involved so as to easily identify them with their input, and the extent of it, into the project.
We look forward to more events in the future where we can keep our filmmaking careers, productions and ideas at work.
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The CDIA-produced film "This Is Nollywood" just won the Audience Award at the Abuja International Film Festival in Nigeria. The Audience Award goes to the favorite movie of the festival. Attending the festival has been a great experience, associate producer Aimee Corrigan exclaimed. "This is the highest and most exciting honor possible! We take it as a vote of confidence that we have done justice to the Nollywood story - it's an African stamp of approval for the film."
Visit www.thisisnollywood.com for more information about the film.
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Darfur
In April 2007, CDIABU students partnered with Worthy Causes Inc. to provide coverage of Boston's Night to Save Darfur (bostonnightfordarfur.com). Student crews captured photos and video footage to help raise awareness of the current crisis in Sudan's Darfur region. The event raised more than $150,000 to support the ongoing work of CARE and Doctors Without Borders.
For more information, visit www.worthycausesinc.org or click here to view the video.
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CDIABU Film Program Director Federico Muchnik and Photography Instructor Bob Caputo led a group of students through a month-long film production workshop in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The July 2007 workshop was designed to introduce students to the essential concepts and techniques of filming documentaries and photographing stories on location.
"American and Czech students had the unique opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and work together,” notes Muchnik. "I was very impressed with the level of commitment and quality of the films these students made. And having the whole thing happen in a city like Prague only made it even more special."
The workshops, which will be offered again next summer, offers a real-world, hands-on experience for aspiring filmmakers and photographers while giving them access to guided instruction in a unique and vibrant cultural setting.
To learn more about the Prague workshops, click here to view the video.
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CDIA’s practicum with Homes For Our Troops gave photography and film students an experience with profound and lasting effects. For More Information
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Three part-time CDIA Filmmaking students have licensed their first short. Hughes Provencher, Marco Rivera and Nicola Seaholm's film "The Events of Friday the 15th" has been picked up by Enterprise Media, a Boston-based video distribution company.
"Events" takes a humorous look at employees managing change. In the film, an average officer worker attempts to adapt when a newfangled stapler is introduced into his otherwise humdrum daily office routine.
The film, which targets the business community, was produced during CDIA's Non-Fiction Short Subject module where students are presented with real-world clients looking for films to market.
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CDIA at Boston University has partnered with a local organization, Conscious Consuming, to make a film starring local comedian and political activist, Jimmy Tingle. Tentatively entitled "Jimmy Tingle Saves The Planet", this short film, produced by students at CDIA, takes a humorous look at how our society lives and what we might do to combat climate change and global warming.
Digital Filmmaking Program Director Federico Muchnik directed the twenty-minute film which addresses three main areas in which individuals can contribute toward reducing carbon gas emissions: transportation, food, and housing.
"We wanted to tell people there were real steps they could take that could make a difference," states Muchnik. "When Jimmy agreed to be in our film we knew we'd have a positive, fun and educational film." The project is currently being fine tuned by Muchnik and his team and will be released in fall 2007.
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CDIA Photography Department adopts Adobe Lightroom workflow: The Photography Department is constantly working to ensure that students have the latest industry tools for their training. Sometimes, however, maintaining a dynamic industry specific curriculum requires more that just a software update.
The first week Adobe launched its public beta of Lightroom, CDIA instructors began demonstrating the new software to students and encouraged them to become members of the beta test team. Now that Version 1 has been released, CDIA instructors have re-written the workflow curriculum around the new software. This has caused shifts in other areas of the curriculum as much of the digital asset management and archiving issues have migrated to Lightroom's workflow.
When the software was first released in February of this year, CDIA had already been training students with Lightroom. These students were called upon by Adobe to work as assistants for their "Soup 2 Nuts" seminar on Lightroom at Photoshop World in Boston. These seminars, hosted by Ruth Knoll (wife of Thomas Knoll), raise funds for various charities, and CDIA and its students were proud to be a part of the program.
CDIA is currently hosting a number of workshops open to the public on Adobe Lightroom as well as Photoshop CS3. Be sure to check on our web site CDIA Photography Workshops for dates and times.
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Our spring 2007 graduation was held on May 19th in Waltham MA. Over four hundred students and guests were in attendance to honor each student’s accomplishments with certificates in Digital Filmmaking, Photography, Graphic and Web Design, 3D Animation, and Recording Arts.
Though the day was rainy and cold, the crowd would not be deterred from the ceremony at Embassy Theater. Executive Director Bob Daniels warmly welcomed the packed house before an inspiring commencement address by Lou Jones, one of Boston’s most diverse photographers.
After the presentation of certificates and the Brandon Hom Award, the fun began. An entertaining reception back at CDIA gave students a chance to show off the school to guests and share a final laugh with classmates and staff.
Thank you to everyone who attended this great event. Congratulations again to our graduates on their outstanding accomplishments throughout the program. Good luck and we look forward to seeing you at our Alumni Associations' events.
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CDIA Student Film Screening, Friday May 18th at 10am at the Embassy Cinema in Waltham (corner of Moody and Pine). Come and enjoy the latest and greatest student films from this term’s graduating class and meet the filmmakers! Popcorn’s on us. Please join us for this special event.
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Join us for the Spring 2007 Photography Student Graduation Exhibition, May 11th from 7-9pm. Reception and refreshments will be served and is open all students, alumni, and the public.
The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University
274 Moody Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 209-1700
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On April 28th, CDIA held a student showcase at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville. The event was part of CDIA's sponsorship of the Independent Film Festival of Boston where the best new American and foreign films are shown.
CDIA's contribution of films included:
Words of Wisdom - directed by Michelle Surette
Homes for our Troops - class project
Hunting Season - Ruben Calderon
Shakespeare's Monkey - Mike Ouellette
Ameranouche - Geoff Pennington
240 - various directors
Bon Appetit - Dave LaCarubba
Sick - Trevor Chamberlain
Lenny's Girls - Ben Howard
A party and barbecue took place after the screening. Courtesy of CDIA, guests were treated to food provided by Redbones BBQ. Congratulations to all participants!
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Join us for the Spring 2007 Photography Student Graduation Exhibition, April 20th from 7-9pm. Reception and refreshments
will be served and is open all students, alumni, and the public.
The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University
274 Moody Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 209-1700
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Many of CDIA's film entries were again honored with nominations and wins at the wonderful Sundeis Film Festival this year. Held at the Brandeis University, also in Waltham MASS, this is the festival's 3rd year of existence, and is the 2nd year that CDIA has actively participated in it. Many students and faculty attended, with Howard Phillips, Associate Director of the Digital Film Program officially representing CDIA. "It's really exciting to see our students work being celebrated along with film entries from schools across the country, and it's especially inspiring to see how the judges agree that CDIA is creating some solid filmmakers! I had the great pleasure of working with Scott Feinberg and Alison (...) at Brandeis, as well as with Federico Muchnik here at CDIA, and the festival was really a lot of fun. And what a treat to see "All that Jazz" on the big screen, and then to meet and be part of a Q and A with Roy Schieder. Not to mention the great honor of meeting Patricia Neal as well! The atmosphere at Sundeis was once again a high-energy, high-friendly and fun event. "Students in our Photo and Film departments had the opportunity to take pictures, record events and interview attendees, faculty and stars - what a treat!" notes Howard.
CDIA at BU nominated-and-winning films were the following:
Nominated for Best Cinematography; Hunting Season (Reuben Calderon) and 240 (Yari Wolinski,Richard Stack, Mike Kowalczyk)
Nominated for Best Documentary: Castles of Sand & Water (Trevor Chamberlain)
Nominated for Best Music: Hit or Miss (David LaCarabba & Michael Ouellette)
Best Editing: Hit or Miss, Castles of Sand and Water
Winner: Castles of Sand and Water
Best Actor: Sean Baptiste (Sick), Harry Gordon (Shakespeare's Monkey, Michael Ouellette),
Winner: Sean Baptiste - Sick
Best Actress: Sandra Struthers (Hunting Season), Sara Christie (Hit or Miss), Shannon Brandt (Bon Appetit) - all CDIA films!
Winner: Sandra Struthers - Hunting Season
Best Screenwriting: Hit or Miss (David Lacarubba & Michael Ouellette)
Best Film: Hit or Miss (David Lacarubba & Michael Ouellette)
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Join us for the CDIABU Student Showcase to take place as part of the Independent Film Festival of Boston, April 25-30. CDIA will be co-sponsoring this year's IFFB, one of the nation's most respected film festivals. During this four day event, key films, both documentary and fiction are shown at a variety of venues. The CDIA Student Showcase will take place in Davis Square at the Somerville Theatre. A party follows the event. For more info: info@cdiabu.com
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An Evening With Steven Ascher. Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Steven Ascher comes to CDIA for a presentation and discussion about his latest film So Much So Fast. The film chronicles the life and death of a man afflicted with ALS. At times funny, at times tragic and bittersweet, this unique film was featured at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and is being shown at festivals and on cable networks around the world. The event takes place on Thursday, March 29th at 6:30 PM at CDIA.
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Federico Muchnik, Film Program director, was recently in Siena, Italy producing an image video for Novartis Pharmaceuticals. The video, filmed with the Panasonic HD Varicam, is designed to convey Novartis’ work in the field of vaccine development and immunization.
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CDIA Alumni's Film Wins Awards, Screens in 14 Festivals
Kim Romano's film Muriel is doing wonderfully on all kinds of fronts. CDIA alumni Kim Romano’s film “Muriel” won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short at the Wood’s Hole Film Festival on Saturday August 5, 2006.
Winner, BEST DOCUMENTARY Northampton Film Festival
Winner, BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY, Woods Hole Film Festival
Finalist, SF Shorts of San Francisco
Selected for the permanent collection of the Library of Congress.
The Boston Phoenix's Gerald Peary writes: "Hollywood cliches apply: this is a laugh-out-loud documentary, with a showboating, charismatic lead character whose fall-down life is the stuff of great standup comedy. A splendid, crowd-pleasing first film from Kim Romano."
Johnny Ray Huston, San Francisco Bay Guardian:
"Even better is Kim Romano's Muriel, a profile of a 67-year-old woman in Key West who tosses off one-liners that Woody Allen would covet; Romano has a gift for funny and even poignant framing, and there are more vivid characters in her 19-minute movie than you'd find in a full day of Sundance drama features."
The Keynoter, Key West, Judi Bradford:
"Kim Romano's outrageous and poignant documentary short "Muriel" jammed the Tropic Cinema last week,
turning folks away who had not heeded the recommendation to reserve a ticket...
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Federico Muchnik, film program director, has recently completed a new documentary about mentoring. The film, One Brick At A Time, chronicles life at an inner city youth center as seen through the eyes of the staff who work daily to keep teens and pre-teens off the streets and focused on their education. The film was shot by CDIA graduate Brian Dwiggins (As The Tables Turn) with sound recording services provided by Nick Mariani and Gordon Fontenot, also CDIA graduates.
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January 19th
Film Program’s Student Screening, Friday January 19th at 11:00 at Landmark’s Embassy Cinema, corner of Moody and Pine Sts, in Waltham. Come and enjoy the latest and greatest student films from this term’s graduating class and meet the filmmakers! Popcorn’s on us. Please join us for this special event.
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Full-time students in a CDIA graphic design class had a chance to visit the prepress department at Unigraphics, a print vendor in Woburn, MA. A tour of the facilities including a 6 color sheet-fed press and the bindery department was given and discussions of how digital files are recieved and processed were handled by a Unigraphics’ Senior Prepress technician. The trip to the facility was part of the graphic design departments efforts to educate students on the importance of sending well-prepared digital files to the printer.
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January 6th
On Saturday, January 6th from 10:00am to 12pm the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University will hold an Open House for prospective students. Members of our Photography, Digital Filmmaking, 3D Animation, Recording Arts and Graphic and Web Design faculty will be demonstrating various aspects of their craft and answering questions about their respective programs.
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CDIA presents Full Frames: The Photojournalism of Peter Southwick.
Peter Southwick is the Director of Boston University’s Photojournalism program. He spent 10 years as a staff photographer with the Associated Press before becoming Photo Editor and Director of Photography at The Boston Globe.
Join us for an opening reception on Sept 29th, 7 pm. The show will run through October 31st.
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WCVB-TV Boston’s Chronicle recently featured CDIA’s Digital Photography Program Director Cary Wolinsky in a segment which profiled professional photographers in the digital age. The news feature, which aired on Channel 5 on September 12, highlighted CDIA’s Certificate Programs in digital media and state-of-the-art facilities on Moody Street in Waltham. Chronicle also followed Photography Alumni Chris Shelley as he described his Practicum experience and printed his images for an upcoming photo exhibition to benefit Zumix, a non-profit youth arts organization in East Boston.
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This week CDIA launched over a dozen media projects as a part of the Summer ‘06 Practicum. Throughout the month of August, CDIA students will partner will Boston-area non-profit organizations, including The Children’s Hospital, ImprovBoston and Mass Wildlife, to provide digital media that makes a difference.
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On Wednesday, August 9th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University will hold an Information Night for prospective students. Members of our Photography, Digital Filmmaking, 3D Animation, Recording Arts and Graphic and Web Design faculty will be demonstrating various aspects of their craft and answering questions about their respective programs.
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In April 2006, a crew of CDIA students and alumni including Rick Stack, Yari Wolinsky and Ryan Nelson, competed in the annual 48 Hour Film Project. The film, 240, was selected as one of the Best Boston films of the year.
Check out a video podcast of “240″.
The 48 Hour Film project challenges filmmakers in cities across America and internationally to write, shoot, and edit a film, using a randomly drawn genre and including specific characters, props, and lines of dialogue in under 48 hours.
For more information on the 48 Hour Film Project, see their website.
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June 30, 2006, 7pm
The CDIA Gallery presents Lifecycle, an exhibition by photographer Mark Mercer. Mercer has been documenting the culture of the motorcycle world for the past five years. Says Mercer, “Motorcycle riding offers us a change of perspective. Through the lens of my camera I’m able to give people a taste of the hidden details.”
Please join us at the CDIA Gallery on Friday, June 30 from 7pm to 10pm to view this dynamic exhibition. Exclusive motorcycle parking will be available on Moody Street. Refreshments will be served. One of Mercer’s exhibition prints will be raffled to benefit the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
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CDIA’s Digital Filmmaking Program Director Federico Muchnik’s film, “Somewhere on the Vineyard”, has been accepted as an official selection in competition for the 15th Woods Hole Film Festival. CDIA Alumni Kim Romano’s “Muriel” has also been accepted as a festival selection. A CDIA Practicum production, “Remembering John Marshall” , produced by David Tames and Documentary Educational Resources with the help of CDIA students, will also be featured at the prestigious festival.
These documentary shorts were selected as three of nearly 80 films representing the best of independent filmmaking in New England and beyond.
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