A&F Provides New Video Facilities for LaGuardia

Last June a graduating senior who was going to be studying at a well-known conservatory had auditioned for a notable film director and was concerned that he didn't have the required skills for a film audition. We learned that the school didn't have the equipment needed to teach acting on film. A&F approached Rich Abel of Abel Cine in NYC who provided the school with nearly $20,000 of professional video equipment. With the support of Edith Hall Friedheim, who paid for the extra equipment necessary to configure the cameras, the Parents Association, who bought an Apple computer to enable the students to edit film, and last year's donation of a 60" HD flat screen TV from the Styron Corporation, LaGuardia now has the necessary equipment to teach students professional video and film acting. These classes have already begun. This equipment is available to all studios so that they can make professional quality videos of productions, audition tapes, and, in the Art Department, explore the media of film and video in art.

 A&F is grateful to all the donors who came together to make this happen. The students are thrilled!

UPDATE

Since 12/11when this article was first written, there are many students learning video production and editing under the capable tutelage of teacher Clay Smith.  There have also been multi-camera shoots of many of LaGuardia's performances and art shows which were filmed and edited by the students.  Most recently, 3 Drama seniors: Nia Ashley, Irene Lazaridis and Erika Martinez, have just learned that they are recipients of the Tribeca Film Institute's Fellowship.  Only 20 students are accepted out of hundreds of applicants.  LaGuardia's 3 students will be working at the Tribeca Film Institute after school for a 6 week intensive program.  During that time, they will be collaborating with professional filmmakers to develop, shoot and edit original short films.  These films will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and four winners will receive a $25,000 scholarship each.