Hosting a National Media Conference

Alumni participants Stephen Tropiano '84, Laura Kissel '91, Jennifer Tarr '93, Rachel Bobrow '93, Jay Gemski '89, Betsy McLane '74, and Russell Harnden '90

In the first week of August the College typically enjoys a brief calm before the storm of students. But this year the Park School bustled with activity as the school attracted nearly 300 people for the 56th annual University Film and Video Association conference. Previously hosted by the Park School in 1979 and 1990, the conference draws artists, educators, and professionals involved in the production and study of film, video, and new media arts from across the country and around the world.

This year the event at IC featured some 90 panel discussions, screenings, peer reviews of films, video viewings, script readings, and production workshops. According to some who attend year after year, the conference is an invaluable opportunity to share ideas about teaching, learn about advances in the industry, and get feedback on one's work from peers. "The UFVA is a very important institution for educators who make media," says assistant professor of cinema Simon Tarr (left). "There is simply no better place to get together with birds of a feather and discuss issues about things we love most: making motion pictures and teaching."

Tarr's colleagues at other institutions seem to agree. "Once again I started a new academic year with revived enthusiasm, thanks to UFVA," says associate professor of media arts Karla Berry of the University of South Carolina. "At the conference in Ithaca I learned many new strategies for teaching, and I brought home ideas and examples that I have included in my courses this semester. Ithaca's facilities provided a great venue for watching films and videos made by UFVA friends. I like to screen works-in-progress because I always get much-needed comments and suggestions. With the clarity and insight provided by my respondent this year, I was able to find new direction for an interactive project."

Emmy Award - winning filmmaker and former IC faculty member Slawomir Grünberg gave the opening address for the conference, and the week concluded with a festive banquet, complete with entertainment by an 18-piece big band. Conference attendees were also treated to a Finger Lakes picnic-style feast at Wagner Winery's Ginny Lee Café on Seneca Lake.

Among the hot topics fueling discussions was the impact of digital technology on cinema. Drawing nearly all attendees, the plenary session focused on digital cinema and was led by Mark Henry, manager of Kodak's Image Technology Center. Henry summarized the digital film mastering process pioneered by Kodak's Cinesite facility in 1999. As digital postproduction processes become more prevalent, he noted, creative control becomes an issue. "The traditional relationship of cinematographers with fellow artists is changing as origination and intermediate film elements find their way into digital systems," he said. "You can add filters, secondary color correction, and all kinds of other things digitally." Someone from the audience wondered if the power of digital postproduction isn't diminishing the craft of origination and creating a "Let's fix it in post[production]" mentality. "You're right," replied Henry. "There is a tendency to say, 'I'm going to let this slide and make it up later,' especially with new filmmakers who haven't felt the pain of fixing it in post. But there's still no substitute for good framing and good aesthetics, because you can't fix those in post."

The conference also served as a homecoming of sorts. Alumni Betsy McLane '74, director of the IC communications program in Los Angeles Stephen Tropiano '84, Jay Gemski '89, Russell Harnden '90, Laura Kissel '91, Rachel Bobrow '93, and Jennifer Tarr '93 attended from their various institutions and contributed their talents in leading panel discussions, screening and critiquing works, and reading scripts and papers Park faculty and staff members also participated.

Assistant professor of television-radio Mara Alper was conference organizer/host and oversaw the intensive planning over the past year. "We did our best to anticipate needs and provide a seamless experience," she says. "All the planning and hard work paid off with a lot of goodwill and positive feedback." John Mason, manager of the Kodak Student Filmmaker Program, is one of those who offered positive feedback: "The conference was extremely well organized; the program was packed with valuable and relevant sessions; the facilities were most accommodating; the social events were well attended and enjoyable; and the entire staff at Ithaca was the model of professionalism and hospitality." Mark Morris, who attended from the University of New Orleans, concurs, "The Park School at Ithaca College is truly impressive, both in its facilities and in its people. The school is a gem."