Summer Media Workshop Puts Focus on Young Women
Contact: Monique Anair, Media Arts Instructor (505) 428-1270; Todd Lovato, SFCC Media Relations (505) 428-1776Santa Fe, NM, May 16, 2008 - Quick. Name a female Oscar-winning film director. Actually, it's a trick question. In the 80-year history of the Academy Awards, no woman has ever won in the "Best Director" category. Three females (Sofia Coppola, Jane Campion and Lina Wertmuller) have been nominated.
From Hollywood, California to Tamalewood, New Mexico, the film industry has always operated as something of a boys' club. But as Santa Fe's film industry continues to grow in leaps and bounds, Santa Fe Community College film instructor and filmmaker Monique Anair is working to bring more women into the filmmaking spotlight. An upcoming summer workshop at SFCC is where she plans to start. Anair is one of five instructors taking part in this summer's "Girls' Media Workshop at Santa Fe Community College." The workshop will take place June 9 through June 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the SFCC campus, 6401 Richards Ave. Created with young women 15 to 25 in mind, the workshop is for those interested in learning about the dynamic and creative process of filmmaking. "The workshop is designed to help women explore media but it's also designed to explore the female voice in media," Anair said during a recent radio interview. "I think a lot of those old-school methods of filmmaking being male dominated are being broken down. It's been a kind of slow process, especially in the Hollywood film industry. But in the independent industry, there's a lot of headway being made and with the advent of Internet media and with the low cost of digital equipment, filmmaking is now an opportunity for everyone." Over the course of the weeklong workshop intensive, students will learn about filmmaking by creating their own films and media projects. Classroom instruction will include in-depth guidance on the fundamentals of directing, producing, performance, videography, editing, animation, Web casting and writing. The workshop will also cover the female role in the digital medium, creative storytelling and exploring a personal voice. Experienced instructors from the profession will provide guidance in individual projects as well as larger group projects. A final screening of the projects will conclude the workshop. Kicking off its pilot year, the workshop will educate young women beyond basic technical training. Students will take away skills that enable them to creatively express and share their individual stories and visions. "The workshop will offer hands-on training the entire time," said Anair. "But really, what this is about is getting women's stories out there and sharing their perspective and visions of the world." Instructors: Wendy Chapin has taught acting to all ages for the last 25 years. She has taught at the College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Public Schools, the School for the Performing Arts at the National Dance Institute and at the University of New Mexico - Gallup. Jilann Spitzmiller in an award-winning producer, director and writer who produced "Shakespeare Behind Bars," "Homeland" and "Circle of Stories." She also co-directed and co-produced "Critical Condition" for PBS, a current events piece about the nation's health insurance crisis, set to air in September 2008. She works as a documentary consultant and educator. Monique Anair has worked for more than 15 years as a cinematographer and producer. She has taught with GirlsFilmSchool, the College of Santa Fe and SFCC throughout the past 10 years. She is an experienced camera and lighting technician and has worked as an underwater and extreme sports photographer for numerous films and commercials in the U.S. and abroad. Julie Allon is a video producer, director and editor. She is a video editing instructor in SFCC's Media Arts Department and runs JBird Digital in Santa Fe, which provides videography, editing and DVD authorizing services. Ricardo Prado is a 3-D animator for the Internet and independent films. His current work, titled "Beachhead," incorporates his experience as a Marine in the Iraq War with his love for science fiction and adventure films. He also works as a computer and video networking technician. For more information about the "Girls' Media Workshop at Santa Fe Community College" (MART 147B - CRN 10388), call 428-1270. Registration is available on-line at www.sfccnm.edu http://www.sfccnm.edu/. For those who register before May 14, tuition is $133.60, plus a $40 technology fee. After May 14, the workshop is $148.40, plus technology fee. About Santa Fe Community College: Santa Fe Community College is the gateway to success for individuals and the community by providing affordable, high quality educational programs that serve the social, cultural, technological and economic needs of a diverse community. The college serves more than 14,500 students per year in its credit, noncredit and adult basic education programs. For further information, visit www.sfccnm.edu or visit http://www.sfccnm.edu/. or call (505) 428-1000.
