Continuing Education and Workshops for Professionals

Maine Media Workshops Gathers Visual Storytellers

By StudentFilmmakers.com
posted Jul 8, 2013, 12:43

Guests and visitors to Rockport’s Maine Media Workshops + College (“Maine Media Workshops”) will be able to meet and interact with film, photo, and multi-media pioneers, gain new insights into their industries, and explore subjects with professionals at the top of their respective fields, many of whom are returning to the school this summer to be part of this 40th anniversary year. The public and the industry are invited to attend the various events, explore the campus and learn about the future of Maine Media Workshops.

“MENTOR” is a theme of several events this summer that embody the culture and success of Maine Media Workshops and spotlight the school’s mentor-centered learning model focused on the student, the caliber of the faculty and the relationship between them both.

Instructors and graduates of the school include elite cinematographers, directors, photographers, producers, screenwriters, artists, and many more. Their names can be found in the credits of Oscar-winning films and Hollywood blockbusters. Their work can be found in the permanent collections of top museums and on bookstore shelves. And, they live in or travel to Maine to pass on their craft and inspire the next generation of visual storytellers.

“Why come to a small town in Maine to study film?” asks Steven Fierberg, American Society of Cinematographers member, a Maine Media Workshops instructor and the cinematographer that created the look and feel of HBO’s Entourage. “Maine Media brings in expert working professionals who know the students’ journey firsthand and help them make that massive jump to the next level. Being immersed in a place without distractions, away from everyone who already knows you, allows you the opportunity to create a new, better self.”

“The role and idea of wise counsel or mentor is integral to what we do,” said Meg Weston, Maine Media Workshops’ president. “We are inspired daily by the leading professionals who come here to teach. They continue the tradition of visual storytelling that Maine Media Workshops is based on and pass on that level of expertise and industry wisdom.”

Nestled in the scenic coastal community of Rockport, Maine, the school is attracting and educating some of the top names in the business. According to students, alumni and faculty alike, Maine’s strong sense of place and the school’s dedication to the art and the craft are what draw them here from all over the world.

“Storytelling is a skill handed down through the generations; at Maine Media Workshops we focus on the art of visual storytelling. It is exciting to see the students interact with the masters, sharing years of experience and vision,” said Weston. “Where else can you learn cinematography from an Oscar-winner, or photography from a living master, and immerse yourself in the art, and enjoy the beauty of the Maine coast?”

On July 27, Maine Media Workshops is hosting two highlight events in Rockport. The first will be a filmmaking mentor event in the afternoon where the public can meet and speak with a renowned cinematographer; still working on projects. Later in the evening is the opening of Mentor: 40 Photographers, 40 Years, the anniversary’s spotlight show, at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. Mentor will showcase the photographic successes and legacy of the school over the past 40 years.

About Maine Media Workshops + College

Founded in 1973 in Rockport, Maine as Maine Photographic Workshops, Maine Media Workshops + College has evolved into a creative center for visual storytellers across many disciplines. Offering immersive photography, filmmaking and multimedia courses in one-day, one and two-week workshops, a one-year professional certificate program and a three-year MFA degree program, Maine Media attracts more than 1,600 students each year from all over the world.

Resources:

www.mainemedia.edu