Playing With the Pros!

In order to show all interested parties films that are nominated or considered for Academy Awards, each year Variety.com hosts the Variety Screening Series on both coasts. After the films are shown, the A-List filmmakers conduct a Q & A session, for the mostly industry audiences.

Last year, Digital Filmmaking instructor Jason Moore, an active industry professional, was asked by his contacts at Variety if he would produce a series for their website showing segments of the Q & A sessions. After a successful run, the team was asked back this year.

A comparable series is produced in Los Angeles by working professionals; their work is now side by side on the website with ours, created by students and graduates.

The interviews are edited into five minute webisodes and posted on Variety’s website immediately after the screening. There are about a dozen students on the crew. Three shoots have been completed for the films, “The Kings’s Speech,” starring Colin Firth, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” starring Michael Douglas, and “Solitary Man,” also starring Michael Douglas.

Students function as camera operators, editors and production managers. The positions are paid, and provide many students with their first professional job in the industry.

According to instructor Jason Moore who acts as supervisor, “This is as good as a first time job as there could be in this industry. I wish I had had this opportunity when I was just starting out!”

Jason hopes the team will continue to be asked back each year, and that this assignment will become an annual opportunity for students to gain real-world experience, mirroring the school’s involvement with the Tribeca Film Festival.

These are the students on the crew so far:
Chris Conti, Jennifer Hahn, Eddie Pages, Daniel Gonzales, and recent graduate Jose Alvarado. The television show "Extra" will be screening a portion of the "Solitary Man" video, edited by Jennifer Hahn, as part of their feature story on Michael Douglas.

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=videoBC&bctid=700809031001

Variety Screening Series 2010