The Department of Communication, Theatre, and Art is pleased to announce its first-ever Digital Fine Arts Festival!
Every Wednesday this summer starting on June 17th, we will be sharing original Fine Arts content online for the Gordon Community. These online events will be hosted or produced by Gordon College Comm/Tht/Art Alumni. There will be a mix of Short-Film Premiers, How-to Workshops, Play Readings, and much more.
Our theme for the Festival is, What is the Role of Art in a Time of Crisis? As followers of Christ who are artists and storytellers, how can our work address the suffering and isolation and violence and inequities of our world today? What is the role of the imagination in bringing hope and healing? Our alumni presenters will share examples of their work and lead a discussion on these important questions.
Digital Fine Arts Festival
Summer 2020
What is the Role of Art in a Time of Crisis?
Schedule
June 17 - How to Make a Movie in College
June 24 - Basic Video Editing on Adobe Premiere Pro
July 8 - Marketing Workshop
July 15 - Shakespeare in a Time of Crisis
July 22 - Documentaries, TikTok, and The Power of Perspective
July 29 - Unusual Organisms
August 12 - The Trees Lament
August 19 - Theatre Education Workshop
Full descriptions and details below
Playlist of session recordings available here ➔
Wednesday, June 17, 5 p.m.
How to Make a Movie in College | By Jacob Padilla '17
Watch Communication Arts alumni Jacob Padilla's (Class of 2017) award-winning senior thesis film, The Being Who Fell From the Stars, and then go behind the scenes with a 4 part mini-series on how it was made. This is followed by a live Q&A with Jacob, where he is excited to answer any/all questions on how to make your own film.
Schedule:
5 p.m. Viewing Party for The Being Who Fell From the Stars and The Behind the Scenes Mini-Series (Total Runtime: 52 minutes) Watch Series ➔
6 p.m. Q&A with Jacob via Zoom Watch Recording ➔
About the Director:
Jacob Padilla is a filmmaker and educator who loves the “losers” of society and strives to create films that highlight their stories in unique ways. Jacob studied Communications and Theatre Arts at Gordon; and his senior thesis film, The Being Who Fell From the Stars, won the senior communications department award, followed by screenings at festivals across the country. Upon graduating, Jacob went on to fulfill a lifelong dream by teaching middle school. While mainly teaching science, he also had the opportunity to develop and grow the school drama program, direct student plays, and teach filmmaking and theatre classes. Throughout those years of teaching, Jacob was also creating narrative and documentary work on the side with filmmakers Wesley Cannon and Anthony Farenwald. Recently, he left full-time teaching, and the 3 friends co-founded Pathos Pictures, a New England based documentary production company with a mission to facilitate understanding between people and positively impact the health of our planet. Jacob is excited to merge his love of film and education with this online seminar!
Wednesday, June 24, 5 p.m.
Basic Video Editing on Adobe Premiere Pro (Video Editing 001)
By Jes Mabanglo '20
This video is a tutorial that covers basic video editing for absolute beginners. The tutorial will encompass how to import and organize files, to a desktop, proper importation into the program, workflow consistency, workspace familiarity, tools for editing clips (and their shortcuts), color and sound leveling, titles and transitions, and proper exportation. If you have never edited a video in your life, still use a 2006 version of Windows Movie Maker, (no shame) or need to refresh your memory from your Intro to Production class, this is the video for you.
Schedule:
5 p.m. Live Premier Watch Party | Watch Video ➔
5:45 p.m. Live Q&A with Jes via Zoom | Watch Recording ➔
About the Creator:
Jes Mabanglo is a '20 Gordon grad from Seattle, Washington. As a Communication Arts major (and a Theater Arts and English double minor), Jes was involved in serval creative circles such as Exit 17 Live, Golden Goose, theatre productions, JUD Talks, Symposium, and Golden Goose. She also competed in local, national, and international film festivals in her time at Gordon. For her last semester in undergrad, Jes was away in Los Angeles for her internship, while studying Hollywood film production, where her original TV pilot screenplay, Siren Society, was green-lit and was being produced. This spring, she was awarded the Creative Achievement Award for the Communication Arts department at Gordon College. Currently, Jes is seeking work in content or copywriting for digital media marketing, but one day Jes plans to write for serial television, specifically for a company like HBO, Netflix, or Amazon. This fall, she will start her grad program at Emerson College, School of the Arts for her MFA in Writing for Film and Television.
Photo courtesy of Victor Burgett
Wednesday, July 8, 5 p.m.
Marketing Workshop | Ryan Cannister '19
Interested in learning more about the basics of marketing and social media? Particularly interested in learning more about marketing in the arts? Join Ryan Cannister via Zoom for this marketing workshop as he shares some advice and discusses his experience in marketing for Theatre, the Fine Arts, and other events.
Watch Marketing Workshop Recording ➔
About the Host
Ryan graduated from Gordon College with a double major in Theatre Arts and Communication Arts. During his time at Gordon, he pursued acting, directing, marketing, and creative writing. He currently works as the Fine Arts Manager at Barrington Center for the Arts. A few projects of his include directing Constellations by Nick Payne, writing a screenplay titled Balloonfest ‘86 based off of a real-life weird history event and writing the short play Time Traveling Taxi. He has also recently been writing film reviews and articles for OnScreen Blog. Previously Ryan has worked at ImprovBoston and Gloucester Stage Company in administrative and marketing roles. Ryan is incredibly passionate about the arts and creating work that is not only high quality and entertaining but that is approachable to all audiences.
Wednesday, July 15, 5 p.m.
Shakespeare in a Time of Crisis | Directed by Drew Cleveland '17
More than 400 years after his death, are the works of William Shakespeare still relevant? And if they are, what importance do they have to us in times of crisis? Join us for a series of scene readings from the plays of the world's greatest dramatist as we explore how Shakespeare can help us better understand ourselves and the world we live in.
Featuring Julia Ragusa '20 and Olivia Neal '20
Watch Scene Readings ➔
Watch Talkback ➔
About the Director:
Drew Cleveland graduated from Gordon in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in theatre arts and creative writing, and has since been working in the Boston area as an actor and historical interpreter. He loves exploring the many uses and forms of language, especially in the art of theatre. In his spare time, he can be found reading scripture, exercising, watching films, making playlists, and writing. The time Drew spent at Gordon was influential not only to his faith, but also to his artistic philosophy. He is grateful for being invited to join Barrington's Digital Fine Arts Festival!
Wednesday, July 22, 6 p.m.
Documentaries, TikTok, and The Power of Perspective | Hosted by Joe Bandy '19
A guided discussion (via Zoom) on documentary filmmaking, how the form has influenced the world, how it has evolved since the first film into the era of social media. Plus how (and why!) you should become a documentary filmmaker.
Watch session recording ➔
About the Host:
Joe graduated from Gordon in 2019 with a communication arts major & political science minor. He focused on film studies and interned at Alcon Entertainment (Blade Runner 2049, The Blind Side, The Book of Eli). Upon graduation Joe moved to Nashville, TN to start his career in the entertainment industry and now works at the newly launched TV network, Circle, as a content producer & editor.
Wednesday, July 29, 5 p.m.
Unusual Organisms | By Justin Kedl '18
In the modern day, embracing uncertainty and mystery is essential as we seek to heal cultural and racial divides. Justin Kedl talks about how cartoons and science fiction can help us engage with strangeness and difference and empathize with "the other," whether they are multi-limbed aliens or fellow human beings.
About the Artist
Justin is a sculptor, cartoonist, and designer hailing from Centennial, Colorado. He discovered a love of sculpture halfway through his three-year career as a graphic design major at Gordon College and graduated with a BA in both sculpture and design. Most notably, Justin was one of over 30 artists to work on Natura Obscura, an immersive installation at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Englewood, and he was a Young-Artist-in-Residence at the Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center in Skælskør, Denmark. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.
Wednesday, August 12, 6 p.m.
The Trees Lament | By Meredith Free '20
Across cultures, centuries, and continents, humanity has used tree imagery to reckon with experiences of grief and loss. Presenting her visual thesis and accompanying essay, Meredith Free draws on personal experience to explore how humanity has used tree imagery to recontextualize experiences of grief.
Watch Session Recording ➔
About the Artist
Meredith Free graduated from Gordon College in May 2020 with a degree in Art and the History of Ideas in Fine Arts. In her work she explores themes of paradox using various media, including: watercolor, oil, and acrylic paint, graphite and charcoal, as well as stone, wood, and assemblage sculpture. Her work has been displayed in New York City, Washington D.C., Beverly MA, Columbus OH, and Orvieto Italy, and can be seen at www.meredithfree.com.
Wednesday, August 19, 5 p.m.
Theatre Education Workshop | Hosted by Kaylah Dixon ‘17
Don't miss the final session of our Summer 2020 Digital Fine Arts Festival! Interested in learning more about working in Theatre Education? Join 2017 grad Kaylah Dixon as she dicusses her experiences from Arlington Children's Theatre and pivoting theatre curriculum during a pandemic.
About the Host
Kaylah Dixon graduated from Gordon College in 2017 with a double major in Communication Arts and Theatre Arts. She currently works as a Theatre Educator/Administrator. You won’t want to miss her Theatre Education Workshop as she wraps up our Summer 2020 Digital Fine Arts Festival!