For the second year, the Westport Arts Center is the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation and a $6,000 award from the Westport Sunrise Rotary Young Voices Program. Both grants support The Art of Filmmaking, a collaborative effort between the Westport Youth Film Festival (WYFF) – a seven-year old student run festival that features the work of high school students nationally and internationally – and Bridge Academy, a public charter school in Bridgeport, CT.
Modeled on the Tribeca Film Institute’s Tribeca Teaches curriculum model, The Art of Filmmaking takes students through the steps of study, reflection, and process, culminating in the hands-on creation of short films. A ten-week curriculum teaches story-boarding, filming, and editing. Through the program students have created Public Service Announcements that reflect their concerns, including teen pregnancy, texting while driving, and teacher bullying. The students are currently working on a collaborative documentary featuring their collective life stories. These films will be screened during WYFF 2010 on May 7 and 8 at Westport Town Hall and Toquet Hall.
The Art of Filmmaking is administered by Sandra Lefkowitz, Westport Youth Film Festival coordinator, and taught by, Patrick McCullough, with assistance from Ms Lefkowitz and Bridge Academy faculty. Ms. Lefkowitz holds a joint Masters degree in Administration of the Arts from Bank Street College of Education and Parsons School of Design, and is an educator and filmmaker. Mr. McCoullough is an actor, independent filmmaker, and Director of Filmmakers Ink, a film school for youth.
The fundamental film program introduces Bridge Academy teens to the art and practice of filmmaking, but also connects these individuals with high school students throughout Fairfield County involved in WYFF. By bringing the teens together for film screenings and other film-related programs, the students gain valuable life lessons and skills through the exposure to peers with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
During the 2009/2010 academic year, the WYFF and Bridge Academy students have come together for two film screenings: “Immigrant from America”, a documentary concerned with race relations in the 70’s produced by local filmmakers Billy Buckley and Tracy Sugarman, and “Precious”, still in theaters – the tickets were donated by Bethel Cinema. Talkbacks were held after the screenings and adults in the audience were able to hear the students’ responses to these films and also make comments.
Over the next few months the WYFF and Bridge Academy students will participate in the following collaborative activities: WYFF Goes to the Oscars on March 7 at Bethel Cinema, and Breakfast with Tiffany, a fundraising event on March 14 at the Westport Arts Center, during which students will model jewelry provided by Tiffany & Co.
In addition to supporting The Art of Filmmaking program, funding from the Fairfield County Community Foundation and the Westport Sunrise Rotary enabled Bridge Academy to apply for and receive a $6,000 grant from MSG Varsity. This grant has provided equipment, student scholarships, and film-related technical training for existing faculty members. The ultimate goal of the Art of Filmmaking, and its funders, is to create a self-sustaining film program at Bridge Academy after the three-year program ends in June 2011.
The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of community and regional philanthropy to improve the quality of life throughout Fairfield County. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds and contribute to existing funds. The Foundation also provides philanthropic advisory services, and develops and leads initiatives to tackle critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards for community foundations. The Foundation has awarded over $110 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.org.
The Westport Sunrise Rotary Young Voices Program was created in 2004 with the goal to promote greater understanding and respect for differences among people while preparing Westport/Weston area youth to prosper in a world, which is far more diverse than the communities in which they are living. The program supports initiatives like The Art of Filmmaking, which enable goal sharing and create positive interactions between students from Westport/Weston and youth of varied physical, cultural, religious, ethnic, economic, geographical, and geopolitical backgrounds.
The Westport Arts Center (WAC) is a visual and performing arts organization dedicated to creating arts experiences that enrich the lives of individuals and the entire community. WAC is supported with funds from The Artur and Heida Hermanns Holde Foundation, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Fairfield County Bank, Gault, Inc., Fairfield County Community Foundation, Independent Film Channel, Melissa & Doug, National Endowment for the Arts, Signorello of Westport, U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Westport Resources, Westport Sunrise Rotary Young Voices Program, and the Xerox Foundation.
For information, please contact the Westport Arts Center at 203-222-7070, go to the website at www.westportartscenter.org, or visit the gallery, M-F, 10am to 4pm, Sat/Sun, Noon-4pm at 51 Riverside Avenue, Westport.
