Alaphabet animation in Media Art

Here's an example of a finished storyboard and name credit from our alaphabet animation project that we're working on in Mr. Needles media arts classes as well as what the final animated segment looks like.

2011 Hampton's Film Festival

This weekend a group of students from Mr.Needles classes and the Art Honor Society and Media Art Honor Society spent time volunteering for the 2011 Hampton's Film Festival in East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Montauk, & Southampton. Students had an opportunity to meet and work with professionals from the film industry such as: Alec Baldwin, Steven Spielberg, & Alexander Skarsgard.

The 2011 Hamptons Film Festival

Next week we will once again be volunteering at The Hamptons Film Festival on the east end and there will be some information given out on Wednesday in a joint meeting of the Art & Media Art Honor Society afterschool. If you're interested be sure to fill out the volunteer application here.
This year the festival will be showing some great films such as: The Rum Diary, The Descendants, & Jeff Who Lives At Home. Among those expected to attend the Festival are: Lauren Ambrose, David Bailey, Bob Balaban, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Barkin, Harry Belafonte, Matthew Broderick, Jay Duplass, Felicity Jones, Penelope Ann Miller, Matthew Modine, Susan Sarandon, Bobby Valentine, Rufus Wainwright, Lucy Walker, Wim Wenders, and Anton Yelchin.

Lego Animation

Jim-Bob's BIG Mis-Adventure from James Newman on Vimeo.

I heard from Strictly Students Film Festival alumni James Newman this week who is doing well and working on some terrific new film projects but I still have a special place in my heart for his award winning Billy Bob film he did in high school.

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year

This week is the anniversary of the World Trade Center bombing and here is a moving short animation based on the event.

Anti-Bullying PSA

Stop Bullying Now Public Service Announcement from Rich Vernillo on Vimeo.

Here's the film from our filmmaking class that was chosen as a finalist for this years Suffolk County Youth Prevention Film series by senior Rich Vernillo. The film premiered at the Patchogue Theater and was also show on Cablevision.

Ponyo Essay

Now that we have finished watching Ponyo and constructed out paper cranes, our last assignment is a paper, below are the instructions:

Answer the following short essay questions in a 2 page typed, double spaced paper

1. Point out 2 of the American/Japanese cultural differences that you noticed in the film Ponyo, what was your first impression of the differences when you saw them and how would they be portrayed differently in an American version?

2. Compare and contrast the main characters of Ponyo and Sōsuke. How do their differences support the story if at all?

3. Compare and contrast the supporting characters of Ponyo’s parents Granmamare and Fujimoto along with Sōsuke’s parents Lisa and Kōichi. How are these characters symbolic? What might they say about the Japanese culture from which they came?

4. What purpose do the three older characters from the Himawari House play in the film?