Interlochen's newest arts discipline thrives
As Interlochen once again ventured into uncharted territory in arts education, many had to wonder how this effort would turn out. The five normal arts areas just made sense - but film? One year into the new MPA program, it has already established itself as a vital part of the Interlochen experience.
"The first year turned out even better than I could have reasonably hoped," said Michael Mittelstaedt, director of the motion picture arts program. "Our challenge is that most of our students are just starting their film education," said Mittelstaedt. "Some have had a taste of movie production or gotten their hands on a camera and a laptop. Others have been involved in other art forms like photography or creative writing. They are eager to try filmmaking as a new way to tell their stories."
Although they were housed in temporary quarters in the Writing House while the DeRoy building was being completed, Interlochen's newest breed of artists hit the ground running. As hoped, the MPA program has drawn on the energy and talent from other areas on campus. Actors performed in the productions, music students composed original scores, etc. Interlochen Public Radio helped record voiceovers for some music tracks.
Eight students completed their thesis films, in which they demonstrated the skills they have gained through their coursework. As with any professional project, there is pre-production, casting calls, location waivers, shooting schedules, equipment preparation and post-production. Many screened their films in a variety of festivals with some success.
Trevor Scott's film "So, You're a Vampire - What Now?" took third place in the high school comedy category at the BestFest, sponsored by the Visual Arts Foundation. Four first year graduates have gone in several different geographical directions but most with the intention of further studies in cinema.
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