Please see important information below about our Summer Film Camps at Arcadia. Space is limited!  Register NOW!

Digital Filmmaking Badge Program

June 24 – July 19, 2013.  

10am – 3pm Monday – Friday.  

Learn the art, science and craft of filmmaking,  “script-to-screen” in just four weeks!   Create your own 1-3 minute personal film plus produce a group longform short narrative film project (drama, comedy, action, thriller – your choice),   

Exclusive program offered to rising 10th graders in Project Mastery Schools within the School District of Philadelphia ONLY.  

Earn on-line badges recognizing mastery in Filmmaking, Editing, Teamwork/Collaboration and Story Development and possibly the super-badge, Digital Storyteller.  Take the challenge, earn an incentive while you learn!  Only spots left – hurry and register NOW.  

Registration Deadline – June 21, 2013.  

Contact the BPA office 215-381-2588 or email info@bigpicturealliance.org to get a Registration Form TODAY.

AnimationNation – 9am– 3pm Monday – Friday. July 8 – 19, 2013. 

 – For Rising 6th – 8th graders.  Learn the ins and outs of animation in a two-week session that blends art, graphics and technology. You’ll make your own short animated film, and work in a production team to create a longform animated movie. Space limited to 10 per session.  Only 4 Spots left! Hurry and Register NOW!  Cost is $340 per week, or $680 per session.
Discounts still available to Cheltenham residents and Arcadia University Students, Staff, Faculty and Alumni. ($300/wk)

BPA Summer Film Camp is at Arcadia University, Stiteler Hall (Film/Video Dept -1st Floor), Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (AnimationNation) and 10am-3pm (Digital Filmmaking Badge Program)

*Industry visitors, Field Trips and Fun Friday Film days at the HiWay Theatre too! (offered to both program tracks)

BPA student films have been broadcast on Comcast, MiND TV Philadelphia Stories series, featured at local screenings like the Greater Philadelphia Film Office’s Young Filmmaker Series and local/nationally recognized film festivals.

Email info@bigpicturealliance for a registration form or call (215.381.2588) 

Calling all aspiring young filmmakers!

Looking for something FUN to do this summer that also builds your skills?  Here’s your chance to create your own short films or animations while working with established filmmakers from the Big Picture Alliance at the BPA REELFILM Summer at Arcadia camp!

Session 1 runs from June 24 to July 5, 2013 9a-3p
Session 2 runs from July 8 – 19, 2013  9a-3p

Each session offers two options:

·     Live-Action — Create your own 1-3 minute film, then work on a production team for their second film (drama, comedy, action thriller – their choice), going “script-to-screen” in just two weeks. Space limited to 20 campers per session.

·     AnimationNation — Learn the ins and outs of animation in a two-week session that blends art, graphics and technology. You’ll make your own short animated film, and work in a production team to create a longform animated movie. Space limited to 10 per session.

BPA REELFilm summer film camp is at Arcadia University, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Open to rising 6th through 8th graders, AND rising 9th- 12th graders (2 groups).

Cost is $340 per week, or $680 per session.
Register before May 31 (extended) receive a $40 a week discount.

BPA student films have been broadcast on Comcast, MiND TV Philadelphia Stories series and featured at local screenings like the Greater Philadelphia Film Office’s Young Filmmaker Series.

*We will also be taking 1-2 field trips to production companies or studios, plus FILM Fridays at the HiWay Theatre in Jenkintown!  Each Friday we’ll be at the HiWay Theatre watching films, and meeting industry guests!

For more information, or to REGISTER NOW before the Discount Deadline!

Email info@bigpicturealliance for a registration form or call (215.381.2588) 

While our Drexel Spring intern Scott Hyde spends his summer in Los Angeles interning with Teri’s old Hemdale Film Corporation colleague Tom Ortenberg’s production company Open Road Films, BPA welcomes its summer interns Will Ford-Conway (USC Film School) and Tony Pilusio (Temple University) who will spend most of their time supporting our 6 week summer film program REELFilms at Arise Academy Charter High School plus helping on some in-house projects.  Arise Academy Charter High School is the only public high school in the U.S. serving foster youth exclusively.  Youth at Arise will learn about filmmaking script-to-screen with Big Picture Alliance’s media instructors and curriculum that will also provide them with 1 academic credit in Humanities.

Will’s films have already graced Sundance as well as many other film fests – see more about Will at http://www.wafcstudios.com/WAFC_Studios_Website/WAFC_Studios.html.  Tony is currently working on his own documentary plus has worked as a contracted videographer for such clients as Bucks County Federal Credit Union as well as other media companies.  He was also an extra in the Dark Knight Rises.  Welcome Will and Tony we are so fortunate to have you on our BPA-Arise REELFilms Team!

Roll camera!  We’re gearing up for a fun-filled summer of young filmmakers in action!  This summer marks our 13th year collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Taller Puertorriqueno & Nueva Esperanza Academy Charter High School for the Delphi Summer Teen Media program!  18 high school students from around the City will engage in an exciting 6 week exploration of art, media,culture and community in the Delphi Summer Teen Media program.  This year’s theme is “Roots and Representations” and we are looking forward to the student-produced short films inspired by this theme.  Delphi Summer Teen Media is by application only and all spots are filled.  Our second camp site, the REELFilm Summer Experience at Arise Academy Charter High School takes place July 2-August 10 where 18-20 students will create their own personal films from 1-3 minutes in length as well as work ‘script to screen’ on group produced films.  This camp also filled.

NEW!  Minicamp!  We recently added a third mini-camp, REELFilm Summer at Arcadia which runs July 9 through 20th, MON-FRI 10am-3pm on the Arcadia University campus in Stiteler/Murphy Hall — spots still available if you’d like to participate in this exciting 2 weeks of filmmaking FUN!  

For a registration form and information flier for REELFilm at Arcadia, email info@bigpicturealliance.org  Register TODAY!

Big Picture Alliance congratulates Scholastic Young Artist Gold Key Award Winner Ricardo Lopez for the movie poster he designed for the narrative film Divided Loyalties during the 2011 Delphi Teen Media Summer Program. An Awards Ceremony and reception will take place on Saturday, April 14 at 1 p.m. at the University of the Arts.

Works earning Gold Keys are forwarded to the national judging of The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in New York City. All Gold Key works from across the country will be reviewed by nationally and internationally renowned artists to select approximately 1,000 awards on the national level.

We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for you, Ricardo!

BPA Welcomes Winter/Spring 2012 Intern Sam Wickes…

Sam Wickes is 18-years-old and currently a senior at Hill Top Preparatory School in Rosemont, PA.  Sam’s interest in film and video began at a very young age where he recalls crawling to the VCR to watch “The Lion King” and “Titan A.E.” As he grew older, his visits to Blockbuster became more frequent and he realized he had a passion for storytelling and film. He also realized the value, and power, in media.

“With the help of technology, we have created movies that get the audience to think about the situation and to think about what will happen next,” says Sam, “it means that we think about stories and ideas that we wish to share.”

Sam is actively involved in his school’s performance group and basketball team, in addition to his new adventure with Big Picture Alliance. He hopes to learn more about himself while developing both his filmmaking and computer skills.

Check back soon for a video about what Sam hopes to achieve through his co-op… and some other fun facts!

Dear Friends of Big Picture Alliance,

Happy New Year!

Thanks to your generous support in 2011, Big Picture Alliance can continue to provide transformative learning experiences in 2012.

You are helping to offer underserved youth a forum for self-expression, creativity and accomplishment through the medium of film and video.

Supporters like you make our community a better place for us to educate, engage and empower our students to learn, grow and live.

—

Missed the Giving Season? It’s never too late to support: DONATE Today.

REELFilm Experience students work closely with a BPA Media Instructor to learn basic camera skills.

Heartfelt thanks to The Allen Hilles Fund, Enon Baptist Community Ministries & The Matthews Family Foundation for their support of Big Picture Alliance and our REELFilm Experience programs in the coming year!  It’s thanks to supporters like these that we can continue to engage, educate and expose youth to the world of media arts, literacy and filmmaking in 2012 and beyond!

Want to support Big Picture Alliance?  Click here.

Does your company match?  Remember our United Way Donor Choice #10298.

From all of us at Big Picture Alliance, Thank you!

Cabral working with a student in BPA's REEL Film Experience 2011

BPA Media Instructor Nuala Cabral is a jack of all trades. In addition to her teaching, she is also a filmmaker who actively supports the anti-street harassment movement and is the co-founder of a Philadelphia-based media literacy project, FAAN Mail.

Walking  Home, one of Cabrals’ more recent films, won the “Speaking Out Award” at the Media That Matters festival in New York City .  This festival is a premiere showcase for short films that inspire action on the most important topics relating to both local and global communities.  It’s only natural that Cabral’s poetic film about street harassment (from the unique perspective of women who are harassed) was selected for this honorable project.

“Walking Home” will be screened in NYC on Thursday, October 27 at the SVA Theatre.

Sending her a big congratulations for this honor!

On Sunday, Big Picture Alliance was one of many outstanding arts and environmental organizations to participate in the CAFe Community Arts Festival which featured a full day of arts, environmental education, and fun!  Additionally each organization presented one interactive, engaging activity for attendees.

Big Picture Alliance helped the community to learn about digital arts and filmmaking by allowing participants to use flip cameras to film the event.  This video is a collective effort created by CAFe attendees and participating organizations and edited by a Big Picture Alliance staff member.  Great work, CAFe!

CAFe 2011 is a community arts festival presented by InLiquid, Crane Arts, Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Council and ArtsRising.