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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2010
CONTACTS: Jody Arlington, 202.316.4316
jodyarlington@mac.com
NEW FILM AND MEDIA
STUDIES MINOR TO LAUNCH IN EARLY 2011 AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Distinguished
by its Focus on the Relationship Between Media and Social Justice
Program is a
Unique University and GEMA Collaboration
Washington, DC,
November 3, 2010—The Georgetown Entertainment & Media Alliance
(GEMA) lauded the announcement of the new Film and Media Studies Minor
set to launch in January at Georgetown University. The program will
provide students with the skills needed to understand, study, and create
media, while exploring vital issues related to social justice including
poverty, diversity, spirituality, ethics, enlightenment, and peace.
With an emphasis on visual storytelling, the program will encourage
social engagement and service to others through the study and development
of narrative and documentary work in film, television, and new and emerging
media technologies. The new program evolved out of a unique alliance
between the University and GEMA, which is led by Alumni Richard Battista
(B'86) and Catherine Hagney Brown (C '84). Mr. Battista and Ms.
Brown championed the project, playing a key role in developing the program's
concept and in coalescing alumni and entertainment industry passion
and resources for its creation.
"Catherine and I, along with so many
of our fellow Alumni and friends of the University in the entertainment
and media industries, are thrilled with the launch of this unique program,"
said Rich Battista, GEMA Founder and Chairman. "As at every
stage of GEMA's growth, we asked alumni and friends for help, and
once again they responded. The passion we've put into making
this program a reality is a reflection of why we started GEMA almost
ten years ago: to bring together alumni, students and friends in the
entertainment industry to benefit the Georgetown community and the world
at large, while enhancing Georgetown's place of leadership in shaping
the cultural dialogue."
"Stories can change lives. And
stories told in moving images can reach millions in an instant.
We saw a need for Georgetown to fill a special space in the study of
visual media—one that prepares students with digital fluency, but
with a Georgetown foundation of ethics and social justice," said Catherine
Hagney Brown, GEMA President. "We started imagining the
program during the early days of GEMA when we met Dr. Bernie Cook (C
'90). We were so impressed with the work Bernie's students produce
in his class, Social Justice Video Documentary. As a result,
we were excited to work with Bernie to expand to this Minor program
and pledged to take a leadership role in securing the necessary resources
to do so."
The highly selective program will launch
in January 2011 with these elements:
- An undergraduate interdisciplinary
minor offered at Georgetown College in film and media studies. Its unique
curricular approach will integrate the study of moving image history
and theory with the study and practice of media production. Through
the minor, students will explore the relations between media and social
justice.
- A senior capstone project,
produced in the student's medium of choice.
- Access to an array of sophisticated
digital production facilities and equipment.
- Visiting filmmakers, media-makers
and scholars (including prominent alumni) at the forefront of media
and social engagement making class visits, conducting master classes
and appearing at campus and public events.
- Film and Media Studies screening
series.
"The launch of the new minor would
not be possible without the strong support of Georgetown alumni, especially
the alumni leadership of the Georgetown Entertainment & Media Alliance,"
said Chester Gillis, Dean, Georgetown College. "Three elements
needed to come together to enable GU to establish Film and Media Studies:
faculty expertise, student interest, and alumni accomplishment and support.
We are fortunate to enjoy the strong support of our alumni, especially
those affiliated with GEMA."
Early stage philanthropic
investors include:
Founding
Donors: Brenda and Rich Battista (B'86), Georgia Irwin (B'92)
and Breck Eisner (C'92) on behalf of the Eisner Foundation, and Catherine
Hagney Brown (C'84) and Jeff Brown.
Leadership
Donor: Richard Hillenbrand II (C'97)
Supporting
Donors: Kara (C'91) and David Corwin (B'91), Stephen G. Dormer (L'98),
Jerry Longarzo, Jr. (B'84, L'87), Elizabeth Raposo (C'98) and Scott
Thomas (C'98), and Edward Yablans (C'88).
With the contributions from these donors,
as well as key support from additional donors outside of the entertainment
and media industries who believe strongly in the importance of this
minor for students, Georgetown has passed the two-thirds mark toward
its $1.1M goal in support of the launch of this initiative. Georgetown,
together with GEMA, is seeking additional investors to participate in
the historic launch of this program.
"As a filmmaker, every day I witness
how the power of the moving image is multiplying with every new platform
and user," said Director Breck Eisner (C'92). "Georgia and
I are committed to helping bring this program to life because it will
engage young people in the arts in ways that inspire them to make positive
change in the world. Georgetown has a deep culture and long tradition
of promoting service to others, making it exactly the right place for
this program to thrive. We encourage our friends and colleagues
from Georgetown and in the Hollywood community to get involved in this
groundbreaking program."
In addition to the many professional
services and programs GEMA offers alumni and students, GEMA's philanthropic
engagement with Georgetown University has included partially funding
the 67-seat state-of-the-art screening room on campus, soon to be renamed
the GEMA Screening Room. Now, to fulfill its shared vision to
create a truly unique film and media center at Georgetown University,
GEMA is committed to helping Georgetown fund the Film and Media Studies
program's future and will continue to seek additional investors to
expand its offerings. GEMA will also collaborate on content where appropriate,
engage alumni as visiting faculty or speakers for on-campus events,
provide current insight and professional support from the industry perspective,
and offer career support for students and graduates.
"At Georgetown we believe that an excellent
liberal arts education in the 21st Century must include serious,
critical consideration of media," said Associate Dean Bernie Cook,
who will serve as the founding Director of Film and Media Studies.
"Through the new minor, our students can explore how media shapes
our access to and understanding of the real world. Through critical
and creative work with media, they will learn to act more effectively
in the world for the common good."
For more about the film and media studies
minor, visit: http://filmandmediastudies.georgetown.edu/
For more information about GEMA visit www.gema-hoyas.com
To get involved in the campaign to support
Film and Media Studies at Georgetown, please contact Annamarie Bezzerides
amb237@georgetown.edu.
Founded in 2002, the Georgetown Entertainment
& Media Alliance (GEMA) aims to elevate Georgetown's profile in
the entertainment and media community by strengthening ties between
the University and its alumni and by developing relevant programs and
resources for alumni and students. GEMA is also committed to pursuing
philanthropic endeavors related to media
and the arts to benefit Georgetown University and our local communities.
Comprised of alumni, students, parents and friends affiliated with the
media and entertainment industry, GEMA has grown to 2,900 members around
the globe representing a diversity of specialties including film, television,
theater, publishing, music, sports journalism, new and emerging media
technologies and many others. GEMA played a key role in developing and
securing necessary funding for the new Film and Media
Studies Minor commencing at Georgetown University Spring
Semester 2011, and partially funded the 67-seat state-of-the-art GEMA
Screening Room on campus. Through its New York, Los Angeles and
Washington, DC chapters and dedicated members elsewhere, GEMA has hosted
over 100 events serving over 7,000 students and alumni. To learn more
about GEMA, please visit www.gema-hoyas.org
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