Contact: Sherilyn Brown, RISCA Education Program, 222-6994
May 6, 2010
The Rhode Island Film and Television Office, in conjunction with the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Education Program, and the Rhode Island Arts Learning Network, announces its second annual GiveMe5 Teen Film Festival, to be held Saturday, May 15th at Bryant University, Janikies Auditorium, from 12:30-4:30 PM. Teen filmmakers from school and community media education programs will show their work, and a panel of professionals will give feedback after each piece.
Participating programs this year include: Cranston West High School, East Bay Met School (Newport), Bishop Hendricken High School (Warwick) , Providence Academy for International Studies, LaSalle Academy (Providence), Beacon Charter High School (Woonsocket), Hope High School (Providence), and Westerly High School Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of RI Film & TV Office, will be the master of ceremonies for the event. The panel this year will include the Honorable Frank Caprio, chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court and television judge for ABC’s Court in Providence. GiveMe5 is free and open to the public, but seating is on a first-come first served basis.
Each participating school or community media program has entered up to three pieces in the event. The purpose of GiveMe5 is to network media education programs statewide, and build the community of young filmmakers in Rhode Island. Rather than a competition, the focus of the showcase is on media education. The three guest panelists who will give feedback on each film are Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the RI Film & TV Office, Dana Neugent, a professor of film at the University of Rhode Island, and Judge Frank Caprio, Chairman of the Board of Governors for Higher Education.
“The future of the rapidly expanding film, television, and new media industry in our Ocean State is related to growing young filmmakers in our education system,” says Steven Feinberg of Rhode Island Film & TV Office. “When I was a child, I was fortunate that my father was a 6th grade teacher because he had the insight to see my early interest in moviemaking. He and my Mom nurtured my passion and encouraged me to learn as much as I could. With each experience I fell more in love with film, and it became my life’s work and passion. Working in film and technology is a natural for most kids today, and we have a responsibility to educate them about the art of filmmaking and how they can achieve quality work in this innovative industry.”
“Young people today are inundated with images about them but not by them” says Sherilyn Brown, Education Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. “Media education is an important part of putting young filmmakers at the center, letting them tell us in images and sound what they think and feel about the world around them.”
For more info on GiveMe5, call 222-6994, Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30.
(This is not an RIFC Production)