NEWSLETTERS

A Message From Stephanie Martino

Hello Everyone!

Well, the school year is halfway over and FFI’s students have really blown us away with their brilliant and unique film ideas! Currently, we have a comedy, drama and thriller in post-production. And for the first time ever we have produced a musical! The second semester schools have chosen comedy and mystery as the genres for their short films. We have been pleasantly overwhelmed and impressed with the time and energy our students put into making their filmmaking dreams come alive! We are enjoying the moment and so far, it has been a wonderful experience for me and the rest of my amazing crew!

Our CINEMA students have truly been getting their creative juices flowing! In early December, John Ferguson Senior High School shot their comedic short film “I Sell Chocolates.” The shoot day was very smooth and the cast/crew had the time of their lives! In late January Coral Gables Senior High School students shot their dramatic film “The Mental Case.” It was another successful production day for our students!

North Miami Beach Senior High School CINEMA students shot their zombie/thriller “Through The Lens” a few weeks ago. Again, it was a very exciting production day- and the students were very aware that their hard work and determination paid off! The editors have downloaded the footage and have begun the intense process of putting it all together.

In January we started the CINEMA program in three new schools: Miami Senior High School, SouthWest Senior High School and Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School. Some of these classes have finalized their script, casted the actors and are currently working on completing their pre-production tasks and meeting production deadlines. In addition, they are also learning about pre-production, film lighting, camera, sound and editing. The actors are learning their lines and rehearsing as much as possible before the big shoot day.

Stay tuned! Much more to come from FFI in the next few months…

Mark Your Calendars!

The CINERAMA Saturday’s Program filmed their dramatic musical “The Purr” at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. Filming this genre was new to us and our students but they pulled it off in style! It took a lot of hard work (and fun!) to create the perfect musical….but it also created exceptional hands on filmmaking experience for the singers, cast and crew! A screening will take place May 2012.

Film Screenings

Florida Film Institute in partnership with the Coral Gables Art Cinema would like to invite you to the 2011 – 2012 CINEMA Program screenings on Saturday, June 2nd from 10:00am to 1:00pm at The Coral Gables Arts Cinema. This is a great opportunity for the filmmakers and the public to see the films that were created through FFI’s award-winning film program.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, FILM! SUMMER CAMP!

FFI is excited to announce a summer partnership with the Coral Gables Cinemateque (CGC). CINEMA, a film education summer camp will be held at the CGC’s Coral Gables Art Cinema, located at 260 Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables, from June 18 to July 26. Up to 25 middle school and high school students are invited to attend the workshops that meet on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Registration is available on line at www.flfilminstitute.org and will end on June 1st, 2012. The workshops are $495 total for 6 weeks, limited number of scholarships.

FACEBOOK DISCUSSION

We want to hear from you! Please check out FFI’s Facebook Page and stay updated with what is new and upcoming with our award winning film programs. But also, while you are there we encourage you to start posting some of your own thoughts and ideas about filmmaking- perhaps, what is your favorite film and why? or what programs you would like FFI to consider producing in the future? It would be great to get a dialogue going between our FB page and our many fans!

Watch FFI on “You Tube”

You can now view the wonderful films made by our students online anytime you want. As a matter of fact we encourage it. The films are actually an ongoing anthology of the attitudes of the young people who make them, acting as a mirror of their environment, concerns and problems. Every film is compelling in its own way and some have won awards at film festivals across the country.

You’ll find us at: www.youtube.com/flfilm
See you there!

DONATIONS TO OUR ORGANIZATION

FFI is always seeking financial and in-kind support. In the event that you would like to donate dollars (or maybe just some sense!) please click HERE or contact the FFI office directly and speak with Stephanie.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, The Children’s Trust, is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County, Miami Dade College North Campus, School of Entertainment & Design Technology (SEDT), Garnet Productions, Coral Gables Art Cinema, VideoLab Solutions, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.