CELEBRATING 5TH YEAR OF GIVEME5 TEEN FILM FESTIVALRhode Island State Council on the Arts Education Program, in conjunction with the Rhode Island Film and Television Office, announce the fifth annual GiveMe5 Teen Film Festival, to be held Saturday, May 18, from 12:30-5PM at the Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway, Providence. GiveMe5 is free and open to the public. Additional sponsors coming together to support the future filmmakers and film industry of Rhode Island include: URI's Harrington School of Communication and Media; Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival, and the Rhode Island Film Collaborative.
Teen filmmakers from around Rhode Island will showcase and discuss their 5-minute(or less) films, and receive feedback from a professional panel. Featured films this year have been selected from students at: Beacon Charter School (Woonsocket), Bishop Hendricken High School (Warwick), Everett Company (Providence), LaSalle Academy (Providence), Metropolitan Career & Technical Center (Providence), Portsmouth High School, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (Providence), and Westerly High School.
Teen filmmakers from around Rhode Island will showcase and discuss their 5-minute(or less) films, and receive feedback from a professional panel. Featured films this year have been selected from students at: Beacon Charter School (Woonsocket), Bishop Hendricken High School (Warwick), Everett Company (Providence), LaSalle Academy (Providence), Metropolitan Career & Technical Center (Providence), Portsmouth High School, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (Providence), and Westerly High School.
This year's discussion panel will include Steven Feinberg (Director of the RI Film and Television Office in the Rhode Island Department of Administration); Rob Gray (Screen Actors' Guild); Josephine Sittenfeld (RISD faculty); and Alex Watrous (former GiveMe5 participant and now of Watrous Brothers Productions).
"The future of the rapidly expanding film, television, and new media industry in our Ocean State is related to growing young filmmakers in our education system," says Steven Feinberg of Rhode Island Film & TV Office. "When I was a child, I was fortunate that my father was a 6th grade teacher because he had the insight to see my early interest in moviemaking. He and my Mom nurtured my passion and encouraged me to learn as much as I could. With each experience I fell more in love with film, and it became my life's work and passion. Working in film and technology is a natural for most kids today, and we have a responsibility to educate them about the art of filmmaking and how they can achieve quality work in this innovative industry."
"Young people today are inundated with images about them but not by them" says Sherilyn Brown, Education Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. "Media education is an important part of helping teens to think using the art form of film, while they gain skills and knowledge applicable to the fast-growing creative industries nationally and internationally.
The purpose of GiveMe5 is to network and grow media education programs statewide. GiveMe5 also sponsors an annual Teen Film Lab (Make-a-Minute Movie Challenge)in March and a Media Teachers Lab in October.
For more info on GiveMe5, call 222-6994, Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 or visit us at the GiveMe5 website: www.giveme5ri.org.
The Rhode Island Film & TV Office is a government agency under the umbrella of the State of Rhode Island Department of Administration. More info: www.film.ri.gov.
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is charged by the state legislature to stimulate public interest and participation in the arts and to serve as the liaison to the state arts community: www.arts.ri.gov.
