February 24, 2016

Drexel’s Film & Video program partnered with Alkemy-X to bring the ARRI ALEXA to campus for a workshop as part of our Advanced Technology course, taught by Professor David Schwartz. The workshop took place over two weeks, with the first devoted to shooting with the ALEXA on campus and the second on post workflows at Alkemy-X’s digital intermediate suite.

In December, Dan Schoenbrun, the Film Outreach Lead at Kickstarter, visited campus to speak with our Production Workshop students.  A filmmaker himself, Dan works with filmmakers at all levels to design and implement their campaigns. Dan talked through the value of crowdfunding because it is about building a community and audience, not just fundraising. Students had the opportunity to show Dan their crowdfunding videos to receive advice on next steps. 

In December, ten Drexel students went to Havana, Cuba, for a two week documentary workshop. While there, they researched and shot three films in Old Havana, working extensively with faculty and personnel from EICTV, the Cuban film school, as well as with freelance professionals form the Cuban film community. Subject matter ranges from the possible influence of the internet, to a bicy-taxi driver and a Solara, a large house in which as many as fifty families can live. While there, they also attended several screenings of the Havana International Film Festival, to which they had passes. One student described the workshop as “an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity.”  The projects are in post-production and will be shown at Drexel the beginning of the Spring term.