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Tylea wanted to see a celebrity. Angelique wanted to learn how to make movies. Toby wanted to see some cool technology.
All three students got their wish last week when three internationally renowned Black filmmakers visited their inner-New York City school to share the impact of technology on the excitement and glamour of filmmaking.
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School students hear from three leading Black filmmakers on how they can use available technology to build future careers.
More than 200 ninth and tenth-graders participated in the interactive symposium as part of this week's annual Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW) Campaign co-sponsored by IBM and Career Communications Group.
Sandra Johnson told students in today's world they have limitless possibilities through technology.
IBM National Co-Chair for BFTAW and Senior Technical Staff Member Sandra Johnson hosted the event at Martin Luther King Jr. High School of Arts and Technology.
"I'm sure you will begin to think about film in a whole new way after listening to today's speakers," said Dr. Johnson, "and I know you'll be inspired by their personal experiences as they show you technology's impact on the film industry."
Hailed as a torchbearer in the Black independent film movement, Haile Gerima, explained to the students how filmmaking is the art of storytelling. He asked students to reflect on the many stories they have to tell in their lives and their families lives as he has done through his critically acclaimed film Sanfoka.
"When it comes to filmmaking, the world is your market," said Haile. "It cannot be the cliche of what they think we are. You have to have a story that is human, that is universal."
>Haile Gerima, internationally renowned filmmaker and professor of film at Howard University, inspired students to become the new generation of filmmakers.
Award-winning animator, designer and producer, Tewodross Melchishua, had the students learn about traditional movie animation drawn on paper, then he asked volunteers to create cartoons using cutting-edge technology such as pixelation.
Tewodross also gave the students examples of African Americans working the U.S. film industry. "I urge you to consider careers in film," he told the students. "It's a field which African Americans and women are still underrepresented."
Student stops by for career advice from founder and president of Visual Jazz Media Group, co-founder and art director for The SoulSuite Studio Tewodross Melchishua, who also is an adjunct faculty member at Howard University.
Alan Ferguson, leading cinematographer, director and still photographer, talked about 'demistifying the process of making film' through unveiling a how-to video he produced with several of the students earlier in the week.
Leading cinematographer, still photographer and director of videos for major hiphop, recording artists as well as for feature-length films Alan Feguson partnered with students to produce a video on filmmaking techniques during the week.
"Everyone here has a story to tell," Tyrone Taborn, chairman, Career Communications Group, told the students. "And now, with advanced, and affordable, technology, you can help put your story on the screen. In fact, the combination of the Internet and digital filmmaking will enable you to level the playing field and lower barriers to have as much opportunity as anyone else."
BFTAW Founder Tyrone Taborn, told students to embrace technology as they explore different avenues in life.
Carol Franken, a teacher at Martin Luther High School agrees. "Just spending two hours with these inspired filmmakers and how they use technology will affect their lives," she said. "Because basically it's something they can focus on today and gives them a better understanding of how they can build careers in the future."
The session closed with a lively question and answer session. Student questions ranged from asking advise on acting careers to where to find more information about filmmaking on the web and where to study digital animation.
"The value of the day was to see and talk with successful Black role models," said Ann Geiger, principal of Martin Luther King Jr. High School of Arts and Technology. "That's the message we want to deliver - that the students can plan and make their own dreams come true too."
As of today, IBM is helping to organize 75 Black Family Technology Awareness Week events this week in 30 cities and 15 states, involving 600 volunteers and nearly 10,540 participants.
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