A professional partnership between the Newhouse School and Great Point Studios will support a unique learning and working experience for television, radio and film (TRF) students at a new, cutting-edge media enterprise.
Lionsgate Studios, located just outside New York City in Yonkers, is opening this month. The eight-acre campus includes set construction, production, post-production, equipment, props, catering, housing, screening rooms and storage, all connected.
Starting this semester, the Newhouse School will have access to up to 10,000 square feet of classroom space and to stages and equipment at the new center. The partnership will allow TRF students enrolled in the Newhouse NYC program to become fully immersed in a production experience through coursework and hands-on internships. Five TRF juniors and seniors make up the inaugural cohort.
The partnership was built in collaboration with alumnus Robert Halmi ’79, founder and chairman of Great Point Studios, which owns the media campus.
“Our program will enable students to work on real television projects in various capacities and get a true understanding of all aspects of film and television production,” Halmi says. “We hope this will make their career paths clearer and possibly open doors, which might ease the path from student to professional. We are delighted that Newhouse has signed on to this exciting new program. Helping prepare the next wave of filmmakers will give our media clients a new talent pool to choose from.”
“At the Newhouse School, we are always looking for ways to ensure that our students have access to front-line industry experiences,” says Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato. “The immersive film environment at Lionsgate Studios is visionary, and will propel our film experience, particularly on the East Coast. Thanks to Robert Halmi and Great Point Studios, we are thrilled to be able to offer our film students the opportunity to learn and work at what will be one of the most cutting-edge media enterprises in the country.“
Participating students will work at the complex three days a week, rotating through different divisions of the studio: operations, equipment, logistics, rights and clearances, props and technology. Students will receive a tutorial on each division and observe how they function as a part of the larger studio complex.
Great Point Studios will also provide a minimum of four paid summer internships each year for students to work on productions by Lionsgate Films or Great Point Studios.
In addition to the internship, students will take TRF 400 Film and TV Production: Craft and Culture at the studio. The course will provide students with a thorough examination of the art, craft and culture of film and television production, offering a mix of theory and experiential learning through workshops, field trips and practical assignments. Areas of focus may include feature films, television shows, digital media, commercials or podcasts. Students will also rotate through the studio complex as on-set observers to watch the making of films and television series. As part of the course, students will develop and present in-depth case studies of a professional production project, based in part on observations from the set and interviews with professionals.
Students will complete additional coursework at the Fisher Center through the Newhouse NYC program, and may also take courses online. In addition, the program will include a host of notable guest lecturers, screenings and events throughout the semester. A $1,000 stipend will cover the cost of travel from New York City to Yonkers.
