Montgomery College, Takoma Park is collaborating with the American Film Institute (AFI) in downtown Silver Spring on the Montgomery College Film Series, which began September 24 with Sunrise and concludes December 3 with To Be or Not to Be. The college also sponsors other events and programs for high school students interested in the arts.
The Film Series screens movies that mirror Montgomery College courses such as Introduction to Film, Film History to 1950, Screenwriting, and Basic Movie Production. Each event is introduced by a course instructor and concludes with a discussion of the film's historical influence and artistic qualities. Although the last film in the Series is scheduled for next week, Perry Schwartz, the Artistic Director of the Black Box Theatre and Co-chair of the Department of Visual, Performing, and Communications Arts at Montgomery College, says AFI and Montgomery College hope to offer the program again in the future.
The Montgomery College Film Department also works with the D.C. Independent Film Festival and AFI Silver on MARS, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Showcase. This is an opportunity for local, independent filmmakers from the Mid-Atlantic region to screen and discuss their films. The program is held at the AFI Silver on the first Tuesday of each month. On December 2, MARS is presenting the films of Edmund Baxter: Leo and Mars (1993), When Roommates Go Bad (1998) and The Least of These (2002). A reception will take place prior to the showcase at 8:30 p.m. The screening is at 9:30 p.m., and tickets are $5. For more information about MARS and its upcoming events, visit the D.C. Independent Film Festival website.
As part of their ongoing relationship, AFI is sponsoring several classes to be held at the Takoma Park campus beginning this month as part of the AFI Professional Training Workshops. Schwartz says anyone can participate in the screenwriting, camera and Final Cut Pro programs "that cover a broad span of the film production process."
During the summer of 2004, another opportunity will be offered to those interested in film. Schwartz and Edmund Baxter, President of Film and Video Productions, Inc., are the instructors for the three-week long Summer Movie Camp: Movie Production Workshop 2004. Eleven students aged 16 and older can participate in developing, writing, filming and editing a short video project. For information about this and other Montgomery College workshops, go here.
For seniors with career aspirations in the arts, Montgomery College offers various majors at the Takoma Park and Rockville Visual Art Departments. Takoma Park concentrates in film, dance, music, theatre and acting. There is no major in film, but seven courses are available from which students can earn a certificate of completion. There are also introductory courses in dance, music, theatre and acting for film and for theatre. Schwartz explained that the college has organized their programs so that "students will transfer to a four year school after taking two years here." The majors offered at Rockville are music art, theatre and dance.
For more information about the Montgomery College Arts Department or upcoming events, call Perry Schwartz at 301-650-1387.
Allison Elvove. Allison Elvove was a Co-Editor-in-Chief of Silver Chips Online during the 2004-2005 school year. She wrote more than 70 articles while on the staff and supervised 40 student journalists, editing articles on a daily basis. During her time as editor, Silver Chips Online won the … More »
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