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The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival from the interns' point of view

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Q & A: Brian Cicero

Posted by Gabriella Sophir at 6:27PM | 9 comments

Blog posting written by Abby Sophir, Television/Radio '14, FLEFF Intern, St. Louis, Missouri.

I recently got the chance to speak with Ithaca College Alumni Brian Cicero (‘10) who interned with FLEFF for four years as an IC student and now works as a research and design assistant for Team Umizoomi, a television show on Nick Jr. He shared insight about his experience with the festival and the long-lasting impacts it has had.

Q: Describe your experience as a FLEFF team leader.

A: I had a very positive experience working with FLEFF. The reason I had such a good experience was because of the freedom and responsibility that the leaders of the festival gave to me. They let me take whatever initiative I wanted to as long as I was willing to put in the work.

Q: What did learn from your experience with FLEFF?

I really got to develop myself as a leader-- being accountable for other people, being given a goal and making sure that goal was met. I also got to develop relationships with my fellow interns-- seeing who would want to step up to the plate and learning to give direction to those who needed it without coming off as a jerk.

Q: What is your favorite part of the festival?

A: Being part of the festival is very stimulating-- just being surrounded by activists, artists, writers and others that come to the festival. As a freshman, my experience with independent films was basically Little Miss Sunshine which, in reality, is a Blockbuster film. It allowed me to see strange films about first contact with indigenous people and wars I didn’t even know were going on. Going to these events and meeting these artists enlightens you to what else is out there.

Q: Do you have a personal favorite film or performance that you attended?

A: Yes, I saw a documentary of Jack Smith, an artist in the 1960s and 70s who lived and breathed art and film. He didn’t believe in art as a product, he believed in art as a lifestyle. This man that nobody knows of had a huge influence on Warhol and all the big names we know. More generally, I really enjoyed going to the downtown events. It’s a great way to connect with the community.

Q: Would you encourage students to get involved with FLEFF?

A: Oh yes! It had a tremendous impact on me. I hope to come back this year as a guest and a viewer. I’m very excited to watch the films and go to the lectures!

Any other Alumni or guests out there who had a similar experience? Tell us about it!

Tags: Jack Smith, Little Miss Sunshine, Nick Jr., Team Umizoomi, Worhol

9 Comments

1:10 p.m. on February 27, 2011 Patricia Zimmermann said,

How wonderful to hear about the impact of FLEFF on one of our former and very much valued team leaders, Brian Cicero. Brian, remember when you started at FLEFF as a first year student, and then, moved up to team leader, and then, during FLEFF's social media phase last year, you joined the team for the social media marketing of Open Space? I think you might be the first Ithaca College student who worked FLEFF all four years! Hope you can share your experiences and advice for FLEFF participation with our current staff of interns on this blog.

Are you coming up this year for FLEFF 2011?

Would love to connect you with the current staffers!

10:17 p.m. on February 28, 2011 Tom Shevory said,

Hi Brian,
Nice to hear from you and glad to hear that you are doing so well. I'm with on 'Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis.' One of my favorite FLEFF films as well.

Abby, good job. Who are you planning to interview next?

1:51 p.m. on March 1, 2011 Lexus Lomison said,

This was a great interview to read. As a freshman intern myself, I know how it feels to not know much about these independent festivals. My first experience working as a FLEFF intern was when Albert Maysles visited Ithaca for 3 days. Not only were his films amazing to watch, the Q&A after the film was an unforgettable experience. I'm very excited to be a part of this team so I can learn about and participate in events like the one in February.

3:49 p.m. on March 1, 2011 Abby Sophir said,

Yes, Brian seemed to have gotten a great deal from his experience. He had only good things to say! For anyone interested in furthering your involvement with FLEFF or learning more about the internship experience, he is a great resource.

I will be talking to London McDaniels later today-- a musician himself who runs Delilah's on Cayuga where the FLEFF after-parties will be held. He came to speak to all the interns in class last week, so I'm excited to continue that conversation!

10:01 p.m. on March 1, 2011 Shea Lynch said,

Good blog Gabriella!

=]

1:20 p.m. on March 2, 2011 Matthew R. Reis said,

I like that Mr. Cicero mentioned the Jack Smith documentary. It's really cool and amazing that seemingly anonymous artists go on to influence some of the biggest names in art, like Warhol. Perhaps this year's crop of films at FLEFF will inspire burgeoning filmmakers to dream big. You can change the world one film at a time.

9:03 p.m. on March 3, 2011 Brian Cicero said,

hahaha Mr. Cicero! I really feel like a grown up now! Can't wait for this years Fest I'm coming into town for the weekend. Can't wait to see you all then!

7:29 p.m. on March 4, 2011 Holly Kreczko said,

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm makes me extremely excited for this year's festival! There are so many things going on in the world and these films will be a great opportunity to learn about them. I hope FLEFF will inspire interns to continue thinking in a worldly way no matter what career field they end up in.