CUNY-College Now Main Web site
Brooklyn College-College Now Video Workshops Web site
College Now is a collaborative initiative of the City University of New York and the New York City Department of Education. Its primary goals are to improve the academic achievement of high school students and to ensure that graduating students are ready to do college-level work.
In most cases, a public high school partners with a CUNY college to design a program of academic and preparatory courses and workshops.
College Now programs also offer arts activities and performances for students. It also includes professional development opportunities for teachers.
In 2003, the Brooklyn College Film Department ran video production workshops in Brooklyn Public High Schools as a part of the College Now initiative.
The workshops teach high school students the fundamentals of digital video production - including; screenwriting, digital camera and sound, lighting, directing actors, production management and non-linear editing.
Courses have been set up at various high schools throughout Brooklyn. These workshops have included collaborative efforts with the "Fearless Theater Company," a theater company working with students with and without disabilities.
In addition to workshops for students, this initiative has established "Training the Teachers", a series of Saturday production and post-production workshops for high school teachers.
Workshops are taught by senior instructors, many of whom are seasoned film/video professionals. The workshops also include active participation by undergraduate students from Brooklyn College who work as teaching assistants.
Workshops are coordinated by Vinit Parmar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Film.