Unlike traditional lecture classes, film-students not only dream up ideas, they cast, rehearse, costume, explore and produce their thoughts into well-crafted films.
For CCSU Film student, Abe Azab, fighting for transgender rights – a topic he freely chose, was not just an idea, he went on an artistic process to realize his idea.
Today, we are so pleased to announce that Abe Azab has won a Jury Award from the Campus Movie Festival – the worlds largest student film festival, sponsored by the Walt Disney Company, Lumix and Goldman Sachs to name a few.
When you’re transgender, merely using the bathroom is a risk.” THE MEN’S ROOM – an intimate portrait on a need for privacy, dignity and respect.
This piece was directed by Abe Azab and features AJ Colella
Unapologetically, Filmmaking deals with human issues, characters and conditions. It is a complicated educational process, requiring technical, aesthetic and directorial instruction.
With an industry-endorsed curriculum and unprecedented student-outcomes, last year, politics and university power-plays engaged in an all-out assault on film education, workforce collaboration and academic freedom.These actions illogically hurt our students, diminished their curriculum, tossed out alumni-volunteers and cancelled our film mentorship programs. (We will have much to say and film about this in the future.).
But fighting for student-excellence has its rewards. Today, we are so pleased to announce another CCSU Film student milestone.After completing her second Film class, Mya S. Gray has been awarded a prestigious UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS SCHOLARSHIP – 20/21.The scholarship is awarded to students who show “exemplarity potential or mastery of a visual art.”
These are the outcomes we fight for. They are achievable by all students, when proper processes, standards and qualified instructors are in-place.
IN HER OWN WORDS – FILM STUDENT, MYA SAREE’ GRAY
From a short film created in only my second film class, I ended up with a scholarship, the beginning of my skill and an experience that changed my life forever.
While I was taking my first film class at CCSU, I became pregnant. At that time, I also started getting hooked on filmmaking. I actually doubled up and produced two final projects in that first film class. As my pregnancy continued in my second film class, we learned new cameras, techniques and broadened our story telling abilities.It was challenging and I was pushed hard.
As a new filmmaker, I believe life’s experiences can fuel the creative process. I decided to create a story about the intimacy between a couple approaching the birth of their first child.I filmed and developed the same scenes twice a week for the entire 17-week semester.I filmed right up until the week I gave birth.
I practiced character motivations, lighting and camera control while being regularly mentored on improvements in my filmmaking.
In only two semesters, I developed an amazing result.So much so, the film I created won a visual arts scholarship from the United States Congressional Black Caucus for Fall 2020-Spring 2021 The experience and film education changed my life.
Within film instruction, there are times of doubt…and the easiest thing to do is give up…but don’t! When your ideas are realized, the possibilities are predictable and endless!
We are pleased to announce that CCSU Film Graduate, Rashad Frett is a selected recipient of Spike Lee’s Production Fund. Frett, who graduated from CCSU’s Film program in 2009, has since been accepted to NYU’s prestigious MFA program in Film at Tisch School of the Arts. His work has been seen in national and international film festivals.
We are extraordinarily proud of Rashad and all others who continue to pursue their passions, advance skills and tenaciously tell meaningful stories. Never give up!
First generation CCSU college graduate, CCSU Film alumnus and Hartford-based filmmaker, Rashad Frett ’09 gains acceptance to New York University’s MFA Film program at Tisch School of The Arts. The highly competitive and prestigious Kanbar Institute of Film and Television accepts only 7 percent of applicants. Frett will now advance his filmmaking under notable directors, writers and cinematographers including, Spike Lee and Kenneth Friedman and Sandra Sissel to name a few.
Frett, credits Central Connecticut State University’s Film program and the Department of Communication for his artistic foundations, mentorship and development. The CCSU Film program is proud to have played a part in not only Frett’s extraordinary accomplishment, but also in the meaningful work, skills and recognitions our students and alumni produce and achieve regularly.
Though artistic study in Filmmaking is not easy, the desire to tell stories, along with the ability to practice, evaluate and improve, earns powerful talents, skills and stories.
Frett’s accomplishment speaks to this notion. For additional information, see: www.ccsufilm.com
To see the write up in the Hartford Courant, CLICK HERE
Posted by, Associate Professor, Jeff Teitler – CCSU Film Program – Department of Communication
Unlike traditional lecture classes, film-students not only dream up ideas, they cast, rehearse, costume, explore and produce their thoughts into well-crafted films.
