Programs for Community Organizations
Many JBFC programs are available for organizations and social service agencies working with underserved youth. Partners have included after-school programs, residential treatment centers, therapeutic schools, programs for developmentally delayed young adults, homeless shelters, and the Westchester County Jail.
KidToons (8-18 years)
Minds in Motion (9-12 years)
Reel Change (12-18 years)
Classroom to Screening Room (12-18 years)
Digital Storytelling (12-18 years)
To register for community programs, please contact education@burnsfilmcenter.org or 914.773.7663, ext. 423.
Sign Up for the Lab Report: To receive our free, monthly e-bulletin of news and special opportunities for schools, educators, and community groups, email labreport@burnsfilmcenter.org with the subject line “subscribe.”
Students create stop-motion animated films using clay, paper, sand, and other materials. They invent their own characters and creatures, and bring them to life. This workshop also provides instruction in sound, giving the students the opportunity to record voiceovers in the Recording Studio, choose sound effects, and even compose original music using GarageBand.
Lead Faculty
Greg Lewis, Greg Nemec, and Joseph Summerhays
Educational Objectives
Apply math and language arts skills to the telling of an original visual story through the art of animation. Understand the art and the creation of animation. Foster creative collaboration by working as a team. Succeed in the completion of a long-term, multifaceted project.
Participation
These workshops require a minimum of 12 hours, which can be distributed based on mutual scheduling availability. Maximum 9 participants per group.
This interdisciplinary program gives students the opportunity to collaboratively write, storyboard, direct, and produce an original stop-motion animated film. The curriculum creatively integrates elements of science, technology, math, language arts, and the arts for a dynamic project-based learning experience. Films created in Minds in Motion have been screened at festivals all over the world. Every student receives a Production Book that assists in the organization and creative process of animation.
Lead Faculty
Greg Lewis, Greg Nemec, and Joseph Summerhays, with the assistance of trained volunteer educational facilitators
Educational Objectives
Participation
Plan A
A professional animator leads a series of 12 on-site workshops. The JBFC provides all necessary equipment and materials. The program culminates in a red-carpet screening of the completed student films at the JBFC Theater. During the school year, workshops are held weekly, generally at 3:30–5:30 pm, Sept.–Dec. or Feb.–May. During the summer, workshops are held twice a week, generally at 10:00 am–noon or 12:30–2:30 pm, July–Aug. Click here for the Summer 2013 schedule
Plan B
The JBFC trains educators and program staff to implement the program themselves. Participants receive three full days of interactive training, Minds in Motion curriculum, a DVD containing sample films, organization and production tools, and technical and implementation support. The program’s schedule is determined by each instructor. The films are created using an Apple computer, a digital video camera, and iStopMotion animation software. Schools qualifying for financial assistance may borrow equipment from the JBFC at no cost. All other schools are responsible for providing their own equipment.
Cost: $450 (first-time participating teacher) plus $150 for each additional teacher trained, $150 (returning teacher). Teachers may bring their class to the Media Arts Lab for one full-day workshop for an additional fee of $200.
Teacher training: Wednesday, June 27–Friday, June 29, 9:00 am–4:00 pm
For more information, contact education@burnsfilmcenter.org
In this multimedia program, youth have the opportunity to raise their awareness and effect change by producing a short film that expresses a point of view about social issues. This hands-on experience on such topics as violence, health care, and the environment helps participants address the issues that are relevant to their lives and also demonstrates the power of the media as a tool for social change. Films can be personal or political, serious or funny. The program covers every step of filmmaking from pre- to postproduction to distribution!
Lead Faculty
Theresa Dawson and Sean Weiner
Educational Objectives
Understand how visual and aural information communicates a point of view. Appreciate the impact of media in the formation of public opinion. Research relevant political, cultural, environmental, and social topics. Complete a public advocacy film that expresses a message of personal importance. Create a multimedia platform and distribution plan.
Participation
For information, contact education@burnsfilmcenter.org
Classroom to Screening Room provides unique opportunities to address issues relating to citizenship, current events, and human rights. Program managers are welcome to choose a title from the JBFC film library or current theatrical programming. Education faculty, as well as guest speakers and filmmakers, provide a social, historical, cultural, and aesthetic context for the film as well as facilitate postscreening discussion.
Lead Faculty
Sean Weiner, additional education faculty, and special guests
Educational Objectives
Understand the language of film, including cinematography, editing, lighting, framing, and point of view. Learn to read and analyze documentaries and narrative films. Experience world languages and cultures in the context of international film style, history, and artistic movements. Enjoy enhanced study of historical events and figures through the documentary and historical narrative genres.
Participation
Screenings are held for student groups at the JBFC Theater or the Media Arts Lab Screening Room.
Reservations are made on a first-come first-served basis.
Cost: $5 per student, $200 minimum. There is no charge for chaperones. The duration of the programs varies according to the film’s running time and design, but generally is between two and three hours.
To find out about special opportunities, subscribe to The Lab Report, a monthly e-bulletin for educators. Please email labreport@burnsfilmcenter.org with the subject line “subscribe.”
Selecting a Film
There are three ways to participate in a Classroom to Screening Room program. You can select a film that is: on the JBFC Theater schedule. These films include current releases, which can be seen on our website, and special series, which are also announced in our bimonthly calendar. Classes are welcome to visit on the dates the film is scheduled to play at the JBFC Theater. included in the Classroom to Screening Room film library. This list of 20 titles was chosen by JBFC faculty members and education advisors to provide a range of films to meet the needs of your class. one of three highlighted films every month. These films are available for screenings in that calendar month only.
View current Film Library.
12–18 years
Digital Storytelling
Lead Faculty
Brady Shoemaker
Educational Objectives
Participation
For information, contact education@burnsfilmcenter.org
