From L to R: BI President Dr. Roger Andersen, Amy K. Covey Memorial Scholarship Recipient Rodrigo Palma, BI Professional Photography Program Director Scott Miles

Amy Covey was a passionate photographer dedicated to pursuing her degree in photography. Sadly, her time ran out before her dream was fulfilled. The Amy K. Covey Memorial Scholarship Fund was established so that Amy could live on to help Brooks Institute students realize their dream of becoming a photographer. This is an annual scholarship given to a student who demonstrates excellence in photography and community service. This student is selected from the students who have met the highest academic standards at Brooks Institute, received the “First Year Award,” and demonstrated outstanding community service.

This year, Rodrigo Palma was selected to receive this honor. Rodrigo has demonstrated distinguished performance since the beginning of his studies at Brooks Institute. An important aspect of the art of photography is one’s ability to engage with others. Mr. Palma has done an excellent job of engaging with his fellow students and the faculty and staff of the school. Many students, staff and instructors know him and all speak highly of him as a student, photographer and person of integrity. He makes it a point to interact with instructors and students to discuss interesting topics, to seek assistance in improving his work, and to assist in creating the best possible learning environment at Brooks Institute.

Rodrigo is passionate about the craft of photography and the potential for connecting with people and communicating the human condition. His photography projects show his ability to connect with others, including a picture story with his brother that was as emotionally touching as it was visually stimulating. His work shows an ability to connect with his subjects, a high level of professionalism, and an artful vision.

To help preserve the traditional craft of black & white darkroom photography, Rodrigo worked with staff and faculty members to find a way to keep the darkroom facilities open and available to interested students. Due to changing technologies, the availability of darkroom facilities was dwindling. Rodrigo organized a new structure that extended the darkroom availability and created opportunities for students to explore and master this area of the craft of photography. He was responsible for implementing basic darkroom seminars that would introduce students to the craft and allow them to continue to develop their skills through extended availability of the darkroom facilities.

Rodrigo often seeks and finds ways of reaching out to communicate about photography and his educational experiences. After participating in a fashion photography workshop in Paris, he worked with other students to organize an exhibition of all of their work in a gallery at Samy’s Camera in Santa Barbara. This provided an opportunity for all of the workshop participants to share their images and experiences with a very large number of Brooks students and area photographers. Related to these activities, he shared his images, experiences and excitement for learning with the local Univision television network through a prime-time broadcast interview.

Rodrigo works in a very professional and collaborative manner to bring about change for the benefit of all students at Brooks Institute. He is a completely engaged student who cares about learning; his professional development; and a learning environment that supports all students to help them succeed. He is always a positive contributor to the Brooks Institute community.

The faculty of the Professional Photography Program praised Rodrigo as they were selecting him to be the first recipient of the Amy Covey Scholarship. He had unanimous support due to his contributions to the greater Brooks Institute community. His friendship with Amy Covey made him an even more fitting choice for this scholarship award. The faculty is very impressed with his contributions to the school, and proud of his accomplishments. They are very thankful to the Covey family and friends for establishing this scholarship in memory of an outstanding student and amazing person, Amy Covey.

Here is the first group shot of BI's documentarians and faculty member Paul Myers (front row center) in Valparaiso, Chile. Photo Credit: Amanda Reyes

Each year, the Visual Journalism program of Brooks Institute offers an international documentary trip for interested visual journalism, professional photography, and film students. The class, which is staged in a different international location each year, is limited to the strongest applicants: those who demonstrate solid understanding of photographic story-telling, the ability to work independently, and who reflect sensitivity to their roles as ambassadors.

You can follow these students on their Chile adventures by checking out their blog at: http://documentary.brooks.edu/chile/blog

From Left to Right: Film & Video Production Faculty Member - Alison Nigh, CEC Manager of Alumni Relations for Art & Design - Bethany Innocenti, Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient - Dr. James Pomeroy, BI President - Dr. Roger Andersen, Professional Photography Program Director - Scott Miles Photo Credit: Justin Miller

On Sunday, October 25th, the Alumni Association of Brooks Institute presented alumnus Dr. James Pomeroy with the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his dedication and contributions to the photography industry. Dr. Pomeroy also served as October’s commencement speaker and shared his experience with our 52 commencement participants.

Photo Credit: Nina Gomez

Recently the Commercial class in our School of Film pitched the idea to me to make a short film explaining Brooks Institute’s Red Dot Policy. This policy was developed a very long time ago at Brooks to ensure that all students use our industry-current equipment and modern up-to-date facilities in a professional, safe, respectful and dependable manner.

Best of all, the students asked me to “star” in this video!

How could I turn down an opportunity to launch my big-screen career – especially after reviewing the script?

This film will be featured during our orientations to help students better understand the Red Dot Policy. No doubt the film will receive some laughs (whether intended or not!) while communicating to our new students key aspects of the policies and procedures used to check out equipment and reserve facilities.

Special thanks to the great film crew (below). They were well organized, professional and, best of all, fun to work with!

From Left to Right: Producer, Taylor Erickson; Director of Photography, Danielle Sandoval; Brooks Institute President, Dr. Roger Andersen; Sound Specialist/Actor, Eric Guerrero; and Director, Jared Alden (Not pictured: Editor, Dan Simmons) Photo Credit: Nina Gomez

]]> http://president.brooks.edu/2009/10/16/my-brooks-institute-15-minutes-of-fame-film-debut/feed/ 0 http://president.brooks.edu/2009/10/13/congratulations-to-our-first-year-award-recipients/ http://president.brooks.edu/2009/10/13/congratulations-to-our-first-year-award-recipients/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:07:43 +0000 nina.gomez http://president.brooks.edu/?p=418

Front row (left to right): Shaun Kelly, Becky Huntzinger, Robert Woodward, Melissa Forsyth, Ehud Goren Back row (left to right): Dr. Ron Smith, Darla Anderson, Susan Bloom, Dr. Roger Andersen, Lois Freeman-Fox, Timothy Halsey Photo Credit: David Litschel

Three times each year, Brooks Institute recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance after their first year of study. This is a tradition that started a very long time ago in the school’s 64-year history. On Friday, October 9th, nine students were recognized at the First Year Award Luncheon held at the Marriott Ventura Beach hotel:

Jeffrey Mathis, Professional Photography

Rebecca (Becky) Huntzinger – Professional Photography

Dane Mehl – Professional Photography

Ehud Goren – Professional Photography

Melissa Forsyth – Visual Journalism

Shaun Kelly – Visual Journalism

Robert Woodward – Film

President Roger Andersen and Vice President of Academic Affairs David Litschel co-chaired the luncheon with award presentations made by the Program Director or faculty representative of the academic program.

Image by Stephanie Nice

Brooks Institute unveils its Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree program in Screenwriting, the newest offering from Brooks Institute’s School of Film. Designed by accomplished screenwriter and film faculty member Brian Price, this MFA program adds a new dimension to the area’s educational offerings and has begun enrollment for its kickoff in November. Individuals interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to contact an admissions representative at (888) 276-4999 or to attend one of the three panel discussions held at the school’s Ventura Campus located at 5301 N. Ventura Ave. in Ventura, California:

Thursday, Sept. 24, 5 – 6 p.m. in Room V4

Thursday, Oct. 1, 5 – 6 p.m. in Room V4

Thursday, Oct. 8, 5 – 6 p.m. in Room V4

“The instruction within the program covers the entirety of the screenwriting art, craft, and industry,” said Brooks Institute’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, David Litschel. “This exciting new program can help prepare aspiring screenwriters to turn their ideas into screenplays, and to equip them with the skills that can help them compete in the screenwriting market.”

According to Brooks Institute Film Program Director Glynn Beard, “a student graduating with the MFA in Screenwriting will have been exposed to the process of creating and exhibiting a body of dramatic writing work, including a minimum of three feature-length screenplays, one teleplay, and one short script for new media.”

The 66-credit degree program can be completed in as little as two years and includes the option of pedagogical training and teaching assistantships. Students will take 2-3 classes each academic session. The program’s class schedule coincides with the existing undergraduate degree schedule to take full advantage of the Brooks Institute’s faculty.

“This new program adds another dimension to Brooks Institute’s School of Film,” states Brooks Institute President Dr. Roger C. Andersen, “Geared to aspiring screenwriters, it will foster critical thinking, creativity, and professional excellence.”

Program Developer, Brian Price, earned his Bachelor’s degree at Yale and his screenwriting MFA at UCLA. He has received many awards including Indie Spirit Award at the Planet Indie Festival in Toronto; Best Documentary from the New York Independent Film & Video Festival; and Audience Award–Best Feature from the DC Independent Film Festival. Brian also won a well known scriptwriting contest called “Scriptapalooza” with a $10,000 first prize.

From Left to Right: VJ Program Director and Associate Director of Student Affairs Susan Bloom; VJ Faculy Member Paul Meyers; Scholarship Award Recipient Mia Shimabuku; President Dr. Roger Andersen Photo Credit: Nina Gomez

Visual Journalism student Mia Shimabuku was selected to receive the Photographic Society of America (PSA) scholarship for 2009. This scholarship offer was open to photography students at Harrington College of Design, IADT – Tampa, and Brooks Institute. Each school submitted one student for consideration and PSA selected Mia.

Students participated in a balloon toss to beat the heat! Photo Credit: Nina Gomez

Our Admissions staff hosted a social for our new students on Sunday, September 6 at the Ventura Campus. Incoming students finished their orientation experience on Friday, September 4 and didn’t start classes until the following Tuesday, due to the long three-day Labor Day Holiday. Our admissions team decided to provide them with an opportunity to socialize and have some fun. They organized games including Frisbee golf, croquet, and volleyball. New students, faculty and staff enjoyed a pizza lunch and some fun in the sun!