This week's parent teacher conferences led us into our second--and what I'm hoping will become annual --64-Hour Film Festival. Despite its namesake, this is much more than an event showcasing the talents of our aspiring film-makers; this is a celebration of inspiration, creativity, independence, and teamwork. For those unfamiliar, here's how it works: teams of students enrolled in advanced film classes have one full weekend--from Friday afternoon until the following Monday morning or 64 hours--to write, produce, shoot, edit, and submit a complete eight-minute film. Students can do little to prepare before hand as the film genre and other required elements are revealed literally, minutes before the 64-hour countdown begins.
What results is a relentless rush of excitement, drive, and sleep deprivation as the students scope out shooting locations, write and re-write, and alternate between acting and behind-the-camera responsibilities.
With these kinds of experiences our students learn and develop the qualities that liberate and create independence. After all, the most effective teachers are those that promote their own obsolescence. Congratulations to everyone in the film department for the 64-Hour Film Festival and. so much more!
Events like the 64-Hour Film Festival often generates discussions about film and musical theatre and their place at LACHSA. There has been discussion for several years about arts major status for film and musical theatre. To many, the reasons are clear. LACHSA has talented professional faculty, emerging and refined curriculum, a legacy of graduates thriving in these fields, and an ever-increasing pool of applicants whose passion is rooted in film or musical theatre. This is not to mention the world-class quality of productions and films.
What has emerged in recent years is a sustainable arrangement in which all students, irrespective of arts major, can enroll in film classes and all students may audition for musical theatre. This has provided extraordinary opportunities for our students in film and musical theatre without compromising the program in the founding arts major. Despite this, there exists a yearning for an expanded presence for both film and musical theatre expressed by our alumni and our current and prospective students and families. Our location, situated at the entertainment capital of the world is also a contributing factor.
In Spring 2008, I created two additional arts chairs positions to accompany the four founding arts chair positions. This decision was in recognition of the importance of these school-wide programs and to create the infrastructure required to facilitate the necessary discussions. Because decisions about film and musical theatre transitioning to arts major status have implications for all arts departments--surrounding budget, enrollment, curriculum, calendar and scheduling, to name a few key areas--it is essential that all arts departments and arts chairs participate in the decision-making process.
While some discussions have been underway in their current form since Summer 2008, the recent economic environment has derailed our initial momentum. It is essential that we sustain our current core programs in arts and academics as our priority and look to the expansion of these and other programs and initiatives when circumstances allow. I offer no apologies for this. While our progress has slowed this should not be viewed as reluctance. The discussions involved in the transition from school-wide programs to arts majors--whatever form film and musical theatre ultimately take--are crucial and intense as they involve many complicated and complicating factors. It is more important to do this right than to do this quickly.
It is important for our students--past, present, and future--and for the LACHSA's place as a leader in the arts and education for film and musical theatre to hold a more substantial place within our school. This will happen.
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