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FMA alumnus to direct Universal Studios feature

By jcronin | Published: October 18, 2011

Dan Trachtenberg, FMA ’03, has been signed to direct Crime of the Century, a science fiction action heist film, for Universal Studios. It is being produced by Chris Morgan of Wanted, Fast Five and 47 Ronin.

This is Trachtenberg’s first feature film, however his short film, Portal: No Escape, based on a video game, became the second highest rated video on YouTube’s film and animation section.

Trachtenberg conceptualized Crime of the Century and has been writing it with screenwriter Daniel Kunka. … Read more »

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FMA alumna’s documentary an official selection at Image+Nation

By Brandon Watz | Published: October 6, 2011

Perfect Society, a documentary by Dita Gruze, FMA ’11, is an official selection at Image+Nation, an international LGBT film festival in Montreal, Canada. For more information on the festival, visit www.image-nation.org. … Read more »

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FMA alumni screen films at International House

By jcronin | Published: August 18, 2011

John Gross, FMA ’09, and former FMA student Daniel Kremer, co-founders of ConFluence Film, screened their films Aug. 18 at Philadelphia’s International House. Gross showed his 30-minute short, The Wind Blows Where it Wishes, while Kremer sc…

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Jonathan Olshefski, Recent MFA Graduate Appointed Visiting Assistant Professor

By lmpatzer | Published: August 7, 2011

Jonathan Olshefski accepted a visiting assistant professor position at Rowan University in Glassboro NJ. He will be teaching Intro to New Media and New Media Production courses in Rowan’s Radio, Television and Film department. As a graduate student, Olshefski taught … Continue reading →

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HBO film highlights topic of alumnus’ research

By jcronin | Published: April 29, 2011

A new generation of television viewers has been exposed to what some call one of the first reality television shows this spring through Cinema Verite, HBO’s fictional take on a PBS documentary from the 1970s.

But it’s been a part of Jeffrey Ruoff’s, RTF ’89M, life since his time at Temple’s School of Communications and Theater.

He first saw An American Family in an anthropology course. The 12-part series sent cameras into the Santa Barbara, Calif., lives of Bill and Pat Loud and their five teenagers.

“An American Family was a breakthrough series because it confronted the issue of divorce … Read more »

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Two SCT alumni hope for prime time success

By jcronin | Published: January 24, 2011

As the world celebrated the new year, two School of Communications and Theater alumni were each eagerly awaiting the pending premiere of their new television series.

It’s a part of the job Jason George, THEA ’96, and Johnny Ray Gill, FMA ’07, both say you can’t really prepare yourself for, but also one that’s completely out of an actor’s hands. So both are sitting back as the first few episodes air and hope the viewing public makes their shows successful.

George, who is also a member of the SCT Board of Visitors, stars in Off The … Read more »

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FMA alumna earns Pew Fellowship in the Arts

By jcronin | Published: January 21, 2011

Tina Morton, CLA ’92, FMA ’05, is one of 12 Philadelphia-area artists to receive a 2010 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, which brings a $60,000 award.

A former X-ray technician, Morton decided to pursue documentary filmmaking after researching the story of Corrine Sykes, the first African-American woman to be legally executed in Philadelphia. Her resulting film, Severed Souls, documents Sykes’ story.

She has since produced Belly of the Basin, a documentary on how specific minority groups in New Orleans were affected by Hurricane Katrina, which won Best Documentary at the 2008 Black Hollywood Film Festival.

Morton, … Read more »

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Film by FMA alumnus heads to Slamdance 2011

By jcronin | Published: January 17, 2011

Dave Bonawits, FMA ’04, will travel to Park City, Utah, where his film, Pleasant People, will be screened at the 17th Annual Slamdance Film Festival, Jan. 21 to 27.

Pleasant People is one of 10 narrative films selected from more than 5,000 submissions to debut at the festival. The story centers on a frustrated singer-songwriter, played by Jiyoung Lee, who finds her way through turmoil with friends and coworkers the only way she knows how— faking a smile. All films selected for Slamdance were created on small budgets by on-the-rise independent filmmakers.

Bonawits resides in … Read more »

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Nov. 2: PIFVA Cinema Speakeasy features three Temple SCT alumni

By jcronin | Published: November 1, 2010

Tuesday, Nov. 2
7 p.m.
L’Etage, 6th and Bainbridge, Philadelphia
Cost: Free

Films by three SCT alumni, Tommy Grimes, FMA ’10; John Wolfe, FMA ’10; and Domenick Cucinotta, FMA ’10, will be featured Nov. 2 in the Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association’s “Three Films, Three Guys, Three Grads from Temple.”

These are exceptional works from such young visions. Tommy Grimes film won Best Narrative at the 2010 Temple Diamond Screen Festival. John Wolfe’s film, Rats in the City, was screened at the 2010 First Glance Film Festival and was shot in Philadelphia.

Alison, Crouse, … Read more »

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FMA alumnus explores Korean War battle in new documentary

By jcronin | Published: September 23, 2010

A film by Brian Iglesias, FMA ’02, brings insight into a piece of American history that is glossed over by many textbooks.

Chosin is a documentary about a Korean War battle around the Chosin Reservoir, which, according to the film’s website, marked “the pivotal moment when the Chinese Army entered the Korean War, prolonging the conflict for two more bloody years and changing the fate of the Korean people forever.”

Iglesias, the film’s producer and director, is a disabled veteran with 13 years of active duty experience who deployed to Iraq twice.

The New York Times review says, … Read more »

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