News

A Lesson from "The Killing Fields": Sage's Insights on Oscar Doc Selection

Will I never learn?

My personal and usually undeclared rules for filmmaking are apparently made to be broken. I am a member of the Academy’s documentary-feature branch (meaning the Oscar academy)  and this year the film jurist in me was jarred by one special film in a remarkably strong field of documentaries short-listed for the Academy Award. The film is called Enemies of the People. I had never heard of it. The assignment was to winnow 15 films down to 5. 

The amazing news is that the 2010 short-listed crop was by far the most impressive I had ever seen.  Of the 15 films sent to me (in an Academy carton laced with one Dove Bar, a sleeve of popcorn and a packet of JuJyfruits) only two were...not good. In addition to the remaining films’ generally excellent quality, each offering some storytelling lesson in its own right, Enemies of the People made me realize that my wildly subjective, well-honed criteria for great work were either grandiose or obsolete. The film is about a Cambodian journalist’s solitary quest for his family’s killers and for some grasp of his country’s lunge into chaos, the substrate of The Killing Fields.

Enemies of the People gets off to a shaky start, literally... Click to read DeWitt's complete article.

– DeWitt Sage is an award- winning documentary filmmaker and a screenwriter who has produced, written and directed films on a remarkable range of subjects since 1968. He teaches a Documentary Master Class in Maine August 28 - September 3.

Canon HD Makeover Enhances Maine's 39th Season

Maine Media is known for its world-class faculty, unmatched educational programs, lobster dinners under the dining tent, and of course, the coastal view. As we begin our 39th season of classes, the school has upgraded its film technical department with new top-line inventory including the Canon XF305 and XF300 professional HD camcorders.

The new Canon cameras will dramatically improve the ability of MMW students to create professional-looking videos in all manner of production including documentary pieces, single-camera narrative film production, and multi-camera shoots. The Canon XF305 and XF300 Full HD camcorders are well suited for our educational programs due to their exceptional image quality and rugged reliability as well as a complete set of professional features including dual XLR inputs for superior audio recording and Canon’s own XF codec featuring a high 50 Mbps bit rate with 4:2:2 color sampling and compatibility with the top non-linear editing systems on the market today.

Chris Lehmann, MMW film faculty and Post Production Manager, gives high marks to the Canon XF300 and XF305 camcorders, saying “Our students benefit from their versatility, ease of use, and user-friendly interface. The combination of having the functions on the body of the camera, and use of two XLR audio inputs, makes this a go-to camera for the majority of the classes we teach. Our students can quickly learn the basics of these cameras in a day, and within a week-long course become efficient and effective shooters.”

Basic Cinematography, Lighting for Independent Filmmakers, Digital Cinematography, Introduction to Multimedia and HSDLR Filmmaking, with 5D Mark II and 7D cameras, are among the many Canon-sponsored workshops scheduled in Maine this season.

Click for complete press release. For more information about Canon products visit http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/home.

Survey: PDN Wants to Hear From Maine Alumni

Photo District News, the magazine for professional photographers, is devoting its September issue to the theme "Never Stop Learning." PDN's editors are planning an article on the best instructors currently teaching photo workshops around the US. To identify those teachers, PDN is surveying photographers about the workshops they have attended in the past five years.

PDN's survey is online until July 5 at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLRFXQ6.

PDN's editor in chief, says the survey takes less than five minutes to fill out. "You have the option to remain anonymous," Hughes says. " If however, you indicate that PDN's editors can call you, editors at PDN may ask you some follow-up questions about your workshop experience, to include in the next issue of PDN."

This special issue of PDN will be out in late August, and additional information on photo education --including, perhaps, your own thoughts and experiences about photo workshops -- will be available on PDNOnline.com.

Maine Media Exhibitions & Panel Discussions in July

Summertime is in full swing here at the Maine Media Workshops. We hope you'll join us for these July Events!

July 1-27: American Society of Cinematographers Photography Exhibition

Membership in the ASC is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a professional cinematographer. As an exhibition of still images by cinematographers - most of whom have taught at the Workshops - this exhibition perfectly demonstrates the creative synchronicity that happens every day at the school. The exhibition runs July 1 - July 27 at Maine Media Gallery. An opening reception is set for Tuesday July 5 from 6:30 - 8pm.

 

July 18 Masters of 20th Century Photography Presentation Topic: Arnold Newman

Back by popular demand this year is a screening of the film What is a Portrait? showing Arnold Newman at work photographing his protege, Gregory Heisler. Following the screening, panelists Michael Komanecky, Chief Curator at the Farnsworth Art Museum and Emily Schiffer, 2010 winner of the Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture, discuss the life and work of this master photographer and friend of the Workshops. British documentary photographer Jason Larkin, winner of the 2011 Newman Prize, will have a show of his work at the Farnsworth At Museum beginning July 2. This Maine Media event takes place Monday, July 18 at 4 pm in Union Hall Theater, 2 Central Street, Rockport Village.

 

July 29 – September 30: We are the Camera Exhibition

In 1991, when digital photography was in its infancy, Eastman Kodak opened the Center for Creative Imaging in Camden, Maine to try and understand the implications of this fundamental change. Now 20 years later, this exhibition continues this exploration by examining some of the current issues in digital photography, from frameless photographs to the ubiquity of the photographic image. The show at Maine Media Gallery will be rotating, so check back often and see how the show changes over time! The exhibition runs July 29- September 30, with an opening reception set for Monday, August 1 from 6:30 - 8pm.

 

Camelot in Camden: The Kodak Center for Creative Imaging - Panel Discussion August 1 

Twenty years ago, a remarkable institution flowered on a hill in Camden, Maine. The Kodak Center for Creative Imaging brought hundreds of cutting-edge digital photographers, illustrators, graphic designers and other artists to teach thousands of working professionals from around the world. The seeds planted in the 1990's are still flourishing today. Join our four panelists -- all of whom worked and taught at the Center during its heyday -- to discuss its influence on their careers and the larger creative worlds: renowned portraitist, Greg Heisler; Photoshop diva, Katrina Eismann; and Workshops President, Charles Altschul. This event takes place Monday, August 1, at 4 pm in Union Hall Theatre, 2 Central Street in Rockport Village.

 

Special Event in Belfast: Waterfall Arts Hosts Alt Pro Exhibition July 27

WaterfallArts in Belfast, Maine hosts an event July 27 to celebrate their collaboration with Beyond Spheres, a project by master photographer Koichiro Kurita. Kurita, who is known for his elegant large format Platinum/Palladium prints, follows the footsteps of Thoreau, as if he were a contemporary, using only those photographic processes that would have been used in Thoreau’s day. WaterfallArts and Edward Earle, of ICP, host a fund raising party on July 27, which includes a preview exhibition and sale of works done to date. To learn more about this party and other events with Kurita at WFA: email info@waterfallarts.org and/or visit www.beyondspheres.org.

Maine Media Event Cancellation June 27: "Vanished Kingdoms"

Maine Media Workshops’ “Vanished Kingdoms” event at 4pm on June 27 has been cancelled.

We regret any inconvenience this causes, and hope that if you have plans to be in the Midcoast Monday, you will join us the same evening at 8pm in Union Hall Theater for two faculty presentations:

Monday, June 27: Tillman Crane & Bruce Strong

Tillman Crane is a large format photographer specializing in platinum prints. Artist, teacher, philosopher and photojournalist, he has been professionally involved with photography for over 30 years. Known for his beautiful images of structure, from quiet corners to industrial giants, towering stones to carved effigies, Tillman combines his gift of seeing with craft built on years of experience. Tillman has four limited edition books whose images work together to provide a glimpse of this artist’s world: Tillman Crane/Structure (2001), Touchstones (2005), Odin Stone (2008), and A Walk Along the Jordan (2009).

To learn more about Tillman, please visit www.tillmancrane.com

Bruce Strong is a multimedia storyteller who has shot in nearly 60 countries, with Sudan added to the mix most recently. Bruce was on staff at The Orange County Register in Southern California for 11 years and has freelanced for a variety of international publications and non-profit organizations. Bruce's work has earned numerous awards and two fellowships—The Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowship at the University of Michigan and the Knight Fellowship at Ohio University.

To learn more about Bruce, please visit http://www.mainemedia.edu/instructors/photo/bruce-strong

MMW Welcomes Media Sponsor "Maine.the Magazine"

As a year-round, international, Maine-based media education center, we have a lot going on. We also have lots of people to get word to about the many events we plan each year, so we asked our friends at Maine.the Magazine to give us some shout-outs.

The editorial team at Maine.the Magazine “Writes with passion and appreciation for content that matters and photography that inspires. We believe that Maine is alive with intense creativity and passionate people who contribute to the vibrancy that makes this such a great place to live. We dedicate ourselves to bringing it to our readers.” 

The Maine.the Magazine website homepage is graced with the headings “Eat, Play, Travel, People, Music, Arts” – what else do you need when in Maine? 

With their help as 2011 media sponsors, news about our free community events, including faculty presentations, panel discussions, open house and gallery exhibitions has spread to their more than 30,000 readers, and 10,000+ Facebook fans in Maine and across the country. 

If you’re on campus for a workshop or for a visit, feel free to pick up a complimentary copy of this stunning treat of a magazine in the Haas registration building. Fans of Cig Harvey (MMW faculty and Maine Media College MFA grad) will discover her image on the cover!

Kramer's "Coming Out" Gives Voice to Struggling Teens

Award-winning multimedia journalist Sarah Kramer’s recent project for The New York Times, titled Coming Out, is a powerful testament to the struggles facing young gay and transgender people across the country. 

Working with photographer Nicole Bengiveno, Kramer met with teens, many still in high school, asking them to share their experiences. The six-month project lets these teens tell their stories, in their own words, about bullying and isolation, and the people they meet in life and online who help them cope. 

Compelling images and audio introduce us to John Alburquerque who was bullied by a teenager in his Bronx neighborhood. As John was entering his corner store, the boy shouted slurs at him. John responded, and the boy attacked him. He needed stitches near his eye and underwent a CT scan to check for internal bleeding. Initially, John carried a taser with him, but he says he no longer feels fearful, most of the time. 

In an interview with theFader.com, Kramer was asked how she found the subjects for her story, “Each of the kids came from a totally different place,” she recalled, “We fanned out to multiple organizations, saying ‘This is what we’re doing, can you spread this to the kids you’re involved with?’ Some of it was much more word of mouth. Sometimes it was through teachers. Sometimes kids led me to kids.”

Sarah Kramer launched her career in documentary storytelling as a field producer and researcher for PBS and HBO films, including Miss America (2002 Sundance Film Festival), the Emmy Award winning In Memoriam, September 11, 2001 and New York, the series by Ric Burns. She has lectured at the journalism schools of Columbia and CUNY, the MIT Knight Fellowship program, Middlebury College, and Berkeley’s Center for Digital Storytelling, and she travels to Maine this summer to teach Introduction to Audio Storytelling  August 7 – 13.

 

Stone's Photo Book Updates are Hot off the Press

Photographer and educator Jim Stone recently released new editions of two of his popular books, written with Barbara London.

A Short Course in Photography, 8th edition, introduces students to the fundamentals of photography and suggests ways in which they might create photographs that have meaning. With a special focus on black and white photography, the book also explores digital techniques and web photography resources, equipment, cameras and camera accessories, the exposure and development of film, and the making and finishing of prints. 

After a very successful first edition, the second edition of A Short Course in Digital Photography returns with the most up-to-date industry knowledge.

Jim turned to photography while studying engineering at MIT. His photographs have been exhibited and published internationally, and collected by the Museum of Modern Art, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among many others. Many of his books are in wide and continued use for university-level courses. 

He returns to Maine this summer to teach Introduction to View Camera July 31 – August 6.

 

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