Graduate School Preview Day

• August 28th, 2009
• in TCF News & Notes

A. OPENING SESSION: (Ferguson Theater, 3:00 – 4:00 pm)

“The Benefits of Investing in a Graduate Education” – Presented by UA faculty, staff, and graduate students

B. SMALL GROUP INFORMATION SESSIONS: (Various Locations, 4:15- 5:00 pm)

Assistant and associate deans, graduate program directors, and other college representatives will talk about UA’s many graduate degrees. Select one of the following sessions to attend:

***All Sessions To Be Held In Ferguson Center***

C. RECEPTION: (Heritage Room, 5:00 – 5:30 pm)

D. GRADUATE ADMISSION TESTS:

Select one of the following two sessions on graduate admissions tests. You should attend the seminar on general testing strategies if you are not pre-registered for a Kaplan Practice Test.

• Seminar: General Testing Strategies (Ferguson Theater) 5:30- 6:30 pm: “Preparing for the GRE, GMAT, MAT, and Other Tests”
• Kaplan Practice Tests for FREE (Ballroom) 5:30- 8:30 pm:
  • GRE (Ballroom)
  • GMAT (Ballroom)
  • LSAT (Ballroom

  

Teacher’s Cartoon Part of a National Program

• August 27th, 2009
• in TCF News & Notes

From the Tuscaloosa News:

When Adam Schwartz designed a cartoon for a class project while a student at the University of Alabama in 2007, he never expected it would become the new face of a program to help children at risk of behavioral problems.

Coping Power, an elementary school-based curriculum that teaches social and emotional skills, was developed by University of Alabama psychology professor John Lochman in the 1980s. Looking for a way to test the Coping Power program in schools, UA partnered with Xavier University and Schwartz, now a first-year assistant professor in telecommunications and film at UA, to create a series of educational cartoons based on the themes in Coping Power. The program received a $100,000 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, to develop the cartoon series.

Read more online at TuscaloosaNews.com!

To see video of one of the episodes visit, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOKUSlqwH9w or to learn more about the program visit, www.copingpower.com.

Call for Films: American Documentary Showcase

• August 26th, 2009
• in Festival Calls

The American Documentary Showcase (Showcase), funded by and as a cooperative program with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (BECA) of the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and administered through a cooperative grant to the University Film and Video Association (UFVA), is a curated selection of contemporary documentaries that is offered to US Embassies for screening abroad. The Showcase is designed to travel American documentaries and their filmmakers to international overseas venues, including, U.S. Embassy organized events and/or U.S. Embassy supported international documentary film festivals.

The goal of The Showcase is to offer a broad diversified look at life in the United States and the values of a democratic society as seen by American documentary filmmakers. The Showcase is intended to demonstrate the role documentary plays in fostering understanding and cooperation among people.

With renewal of a grant by BECA to UFVA, we are now able to include 5-10 new titles and filmmakers in the second round of the Showcase, which runs through December 2010. Filmmakers may nominate their own films. Student films of exceptional quality are welcome.

Qualifications for Consideration:

Documentaries nominated can be of any length and style, although the emphasis is on shorter, under one hour films in this grant cycle. They must have a release date no earlier than January 2007 and must be completed by September 2009, and available on DVD. They must be made by an American citizen, focus primarily on American subjects (this can be Americans overseas, but the main emphasis must be on American citizens), and fit in to one, or preferably more, of the following categories:

Subject Categories:

The Democratic Process
Emigration/Immigration
Environmental, Nature, Our Planet
Ethnic Diversities
Health
Innovation in Education
Music and Society – no concert film or music videos
Popular Culture
Women, Families and Children

A panel of experts will recommend up to 10 films for possible inclusion in the Showcase. BECA will make the final decision about inclusion.

To nominate a film, four NONRETURNABLE DVDs must be submitted along with a short SYNOPSIS and CREDIT LISTS. Entries must be shipped PREPAID. Nomination Postmark Deadline: SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Inclusion in the Showcase grants BECA, the DOS, the UFVA and the International Documentary Association (IDA) the right to use brief clips, photographs, and biographical data of filmmakers and their subjects for publicity and promotional purposes, including UFVA/IDA/DOS websites, podcasts and internet feeds. If a film is chosen to be included in the Showcase, the copyright holder further grants permission to the Showcase to make DVD duplicates and to screen the entire documentary, or portions thereof, at American Embassies and overseas venues selected by the Embassies, including foreign film festivals. The copyright holder also agrees to allow the Showcase to subtitle the film as deemed necessary by the Showcase.

All materials must be shipped/mailed with all charges prepaid to:
Betsy McLane, PhD
Showcase Director
3801 University Avenue
Suite 260
Riverside, CA 92501

For more information visit www.ufva.org/showcase
Any questions not addressed above should be directed to:
betsymclane@documentarydiva.com

Open Call to Showcase Student Artists

• August 19th, 2009
• in Festival Calls

The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus invites you to “Get Involved: Get Creative” on Tuesday, August 25 from 6pm till dark at Maxwell Hall. Following “Get Creative” is a screening of Disney Pixar’s UP (sponsored by University Union) on the lawn of the Student Media building in front of Bryant Denny Stadium at 8pm. “Get Creative” is a part of Student Involvement Week. Student Involvement Week events last from August 24 until August 28, 2009.  Each day features a different way that students can participate in the variety of programs and activities that the university offers. Creative Campus hosts “Get Creative” as an open call to all student artists, regardless of major.

Any student interested in participating (in either performance or art exhibit) should email Creative Campus at GetCreativeUA@gmail.com by Monday, August 24 at 5pm. All forms of artwork accepted including but not limited to: spoken word, photography, ceramics, painting, dance, theatrical performances and musical performances. Interested performers should include contact information, performance/art type, number of pieces or performers, and performance length (if applicable).

Spectators are welcome and encouraged to attend this FREE event. In addition to celebrating student artists and performers, there will be free interactive art activities available for all.

The primary goal for “Get Creative” is to provide students information on how to get involved with the arts. Many departments and organizations have contributed either printed material or personnel to the evening to assist students in getting active and engaging in the many artistic outlets at the Capstone. Involvement is part of the campus experience. No matter what path, you take there is a way for you to participate.

Maxwell Hall is located on Stadium Drive, across from the Bruno Business Library. Parking is located at the West Commuter lot behind Ten Hoor. Additionally, Maxwell Hall has a bus stop on both Gold Routes of the Crimson Ride.

The week’s events surround the Fall 2009 “Get On Board Day” on Wednesday, August 26 10:00 am -4:45 pm at the Ferguson Center Plaza & Promenade. The annual event offers a “one-stop shop” for exploring all types of student organizations.  Getting involved is an essential part of the college experience, and it’s not just about building a resume– it’s about finding your passion and connecting with other people who share that passion. Come explore to see what stirs your interest; there’s something for everyone!

For more information on Creative Campus, please visit www.creativecampus.ua.edu.

Call for Entries ~ Accolade Named Among Top 25 Festivals

• August 12th, 2009
• in Festival Calls

Call for Entries ~ Accolade Named Among Top 25 Festivals

Deadline: August 28, 2009

Information: www.TheAccolade.net

Now in its seventh year, top-tier, international awards competition, The Accolade, announces its Call for Entries for filmmakers, television producers and videographers.

The Accolade is unique as awards competition, not a traditional film festival. Awards go to those filmmakers, television producers and videographers who produce fresh, standout entertainment, animation and compelling documentaries. It is a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices.

Most importantly, The Accolade team works passionately to help worthy productions gain the publicity and distribution they deserve. That is what The Accolade is all about: helping winners of this coveted award achieve recognition and distribution opportunities. 

Every filmmaker, television producer and videographer wants credibility associated with their work and buzz about their productions. The Accolade sends information about Accolade winners via email to over 27,000 industry professionals. The Accolade is an award recognized for its rigorous evaluation process by buyers and distributors, inspiring confidence that winning productions are of high quality.

Quality and creativity are celebrated in three levels of awards: Best of Show, Award of Excellence and Award of Merit. Best of Show honors are granted only if worthy productions are discovered. Likewise, no more than 15% of entries are granted Awards of Excellence.  Notable artistic and technical productions are recognized at the Award of Merit level. Annually, a special award is given to a production that makes a significant contribution to social change or a humanitarian effort.

The Accolade receives entries from all over the world: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the United States.

MovieMaker Magazine included The Accolade among the Top 25 Festivals “Worth The Entry Fee.” The article said, “Past participants can’t stop raving about the professional opportunities participation in this event has generated for their work.”

Go to www.TheAccolade.net for rules and entry form.

PA’s needed for Birmingham film shoot

• August 12th, 2009
• in Production Jobs

Production Assistants needed for a feature film directed by Lexi Alexander (“Punisher: Warzone”) that will begin production in Birmingham on Aug. 17th.

Send resumes and inquiries to: marklhutson@gmail.com