Another Personal Anecdote about Why I Love My Job.

On my way out of Burnham Center on Friday night, I had an interesting conversation with a couple of students from a competing college in town, both of whom pursuing animation degrees.

These two students initially approached me to find out if I was a student at Flashpoint Academy. I told them no, but that I work at Flashpoint, and would be happy to help them if I could. They told me they’d been to our school a few times for CG Society meetings and wanted to know where they could get a Flashpoint t-shirt to, in their own words, “piss off” their school.

I laughed, but they said they were quite serious. One of them then went on to tell me they’ve had it with their animation department’s lack of tools and resources, and they’re constantly frustrated by scarce and broken equipment. They said that when they come to Flashpoint they see what animation facilities really SHOULD be like, and that their school should be more like us.

As luck would have it, Perry Harovas, our Animation & Visual Effects chairman, walked by just as I was having this conversation with these students. I asked them if they use Mastering Maya in their animation classes, and when they said yes I pointed at Perry and informed them that he had co-authored it. They couldn’t believe it, and acted a little like there was a celebrity in their midst. “It’s the textbook guy!”

Both of these students already had a brochure in hand when I started talking to them and expressed interest in coming to Flashpoint after they finish their current BFA degrees in order to expand their education.

My conversation with these students further proved to me that we at Flashpoint Academy are doing something (in fact, a lot of things) right.

By keeping our emphasis on hands-on learning and exceptional teaching, our programs are gaining a reputation -- even among the students at competing colleges -- for providing superior education. The fact that these students see our 2-year Animation & Visual Effects program as something more akin to a graduate program than their own BFA program really says something about who we are and what we have accomplished in just 3 years. I am extremely proud.

My Wordle

I created this cool "Wordle" using the program at wordle.net. It's cool how you can take one look at this and know exactly what my blog is about. I recommend you try it!

Silver Productions MV Releases Video for Just Left: "Tell Me What You're Think'n."

Just Left - Tell Me That You're Thinkin' music video

Standby Records | MySpace Video


Are you ready for a little Kristin H. trivia? For 10,000 Kristin bucks, correctly answer the following question:

Before becoming a Web Evangelist for the coolest school in town, what was Kristin's dream career?
a) Rodeo clown
b) Doughnut tester
c) English teacher
d) Local music journalist

If you guessed a, b, or c, you didn't know me as a teenager.

That's right -- this straight-laced, Shakespeare loving, J. Crew donning web evangelist used to dream of being a local music journalist, and even had the website (the late SonicTreats.net) and closet full of pleather to prove it. When I wasn't busy trying to wrap my head around 10th grade chemistry, I'd be writing up web interviews with bands like Kill Hannah, Phantom Planet, and The Faint, planning my next feature, or figuring out how to get from my dad's car to Metro or Schuba's as discretely as possible. (My dad would wait in the car.)

True story.

Well, today I get to relive some of those youthful fantasies as Just Left and Silver Productions MV (headed up by Flashpoint Academy film alum, Matt Silver) release the music video for "Tell Me What You're Think'n."

A great collaboration of local filmmakers and local musicians, "Tell Me What You're Think'n" is just one of many Silver Productions MV Videos that showcase the creative talent that continues to place Chicago's music scene among the most vibrant in the country. This catchy, danceable ditty is sure to round out many an indie-kid playlist after today's worldwide release, populating iThings and blasting from car stereos and house parties for months to come.

You can buy Just Left's new album, Think Fast, at Best Buy and other national retailers. To contact Silver Productions, please send an email to inquiries@silverproductionsmv.com and support local talent on your next video project.

Doubting the Viability of Vocational Arts Education? Don't.

One of the hardest and most frustrating things about being at a vocational college -- any vocational college -- is combating the stigma that students at these institutions are not cut out for anyplace else. And, as anyone who has ever attended art school is intimately aware, saying that our particular vocational college is for artists tends to ellicit an even more skeptical reaction from the non-believers. (Or, as I like to call them, the "pre-converts.")

From the very beginning of my time here (I've been at Flashpoint Academy for a little over 7 months now) it was evident that this was not the case with our students. Intelligent, well-spoken, creative, and extremely driven, the picture of your "average" Flashpoint student is anything but average.

I've seen them do amazing things. They've made festival-winning movies, produced music videos for national acts, developed video games that have impressed even your most prestigious game development companies, and created animations for real Hollywood features. A far cry from those at Le Institut de Refrigeration Repair, Flashpoint students constantly raise the bar not just for themselves and their classmates but for vocational education as a whole. It’s a truly remarkable thing to be a part of.

Recently, more than ever, I’ve been blown away by the work ethic and sheer talent I’ve witnessed around me. It occurred to me that even I, one of the foremost proponents of Flashpoint’s educational model, was not fully aware of the gifts our students have. Want to be impressed? Read first-year student Emily Greenquist’s winning entry into the Game Career Guide Game Design Challenge, or fall into second year student Pete Stilwell’s short story, “Embers.” While you’re at it, check out the amazing review of film alum Michael Noens’ latest feature film, Coasting. I dare you to find a more concentrated crop of talented young minds anywhere – 4 year colleges, I’m talking to you.

In short, the students at Flashpoint are proving that vocational and art education isn’t just for those who can’t make it anywhere else. It’s for those who wouldn’t waste their time doing anything but the things that move them. To me, although few paths are less traveled in traditional education, there is no more proven formula for lifelong happiness and success. And if this isn't how we should measure the value of education, then I don't know what is.

Virtual College Fairs: The Future of College Exploration?

This week I'll be participating in my second ever Virtual College Fair, College Week Live. This time, the target audience is high school counselors, and attendees are said to include thousands of educators from the ACT's heafty, international little black book.

Sparing schools and attendees the hassle, travel, and expense of traditional college fairs, College Week Live utilizes a highly interactive online environment to provide a fun and immersive experience for everyone involved. (See a screen shot of Flashpoint Academy's booth at left.) Each virtual booth features everything you would expect from one at an in-person college fair, including live chat with admissions counselors and downloadable information handouts; but CWL allows schools to take their booth to the next level, offering audio and video, live lead capture, and more -- plus all of the advantages of having the internet at your fingertips.

In my experience, the simple fact of being able to bypass the power, internet connection, union labor, and AV rentals costs makes College Week Live a great value. (What would those services run you at your city's convention hall?) But what will really make this type of college fair take off is its ability to draw people from more than one geographic area and help visitors judge a school based not just on the flashiness of its booth, but on the quality of information and people that makes up the institution itself.

If you are a high school teacher or counselor who would like to attend College Week Live (and why wouldn't you: it's free!) click here or go to www.collegeweeklive.com. And don't forget to stop by Flashpoint Academy!

Now Accepting Applications: Flashpoint Academy High School Institute (Winter 2010)

For those of you who are, know, or encounter creative, motivated high school students (especially in the Chicago area) you're going to want to know about this program.

Flashpoint Academy will be offering a high school institute this winter, 2010, for students aged 16+ looking to start their education in film/broadcast, game design, recording arts, or visual effects/animation. If you have any questions about it, please feel free to contact me directly. (Since this is the school I work at, I know all the answers!)

FLASHPOINT HIGH SCHOOL INSTITUTE - WINTER 2010

Now Accepting Applications!
Jan 30th-March 6th, 2010

Classes are held each Saturday, from 10:00am-1:00pm.
Space is limited, so register today!

High School Students: Flashpoint Academy is currently accepting applications for our Winter 2010 High School Institute. Get an introduction to HD film production, make a video game in our game design workshop, learn to create animations and visual effects, or participate in a real studio recording session!

All Flashpoint High School Institute Sessions are held at Flashpoint’s main campus and production facilities at 28 North Clark Street in Chicago. You must be a current high school student and over the age of 16 to attend.

For more information, contact Admissions at (312) 332-0707

Introduction to HD Film Production | Download Application
Cost: $750.00

This six-session, hands-on program is designed to give high school students an introduction to film production and filmmaking techniques. Over the course of a the class, students, working in teams, will take a project from ideation and conception to finished short-film.

Download Course Description

Game Design Workshop | Download Application
Cost: $750.00

The Game Design Workshop offers an introduction to modern game design. This professionally guided hands-on opportunity leads a select group of attendees to the creation of a design appropriate for today's consoles. Life-long gamers will evolve game ideas coupled with the fundamentals of play mechanics during this one-of-a-kind workshop. This learning experience involves the creation of physical prototypes, group critique, and design iteration. Finally, at the end of the workshop, diligent attendees leave with the completion of individual professional-quality game concept documents!

Download Course Description

Studio Recording Workshop | Download Application
Cost: $750.00

Students will begin the class with an introduction to sound systems used for the recording and playback of professional audio. Topics and collaborative hands-on training include: an overview of the music recording control room and studios, signal flow, operating level, gain structure, basic acoustic principles, microphones, microphone preamplifiers, equalizers, compressors, and the concepts and methodologies of multi-track recording. Students will also engage in aural awareness and critical listening exercises. The last part of the class will be devoted to tracking, overdubs, and mixing sessions of a 4-6 piece pop ensemble. As the Institute concludes, students create compact discs of their projects to Red Book Standard specifications.

Download Course Description

Animation/VFX Workshop | Download Application
Cost: $750.00

The VFX & Animation Workshop offers an introduction to the complex but powerful world of creating Visual Effects (VFX) and Animation using computer graphics. This professionally guided hands-on opportunity leads a select group of attendees to the creation of a character animation using a pre-built professional character. The students learn to make the character behave (or "act") in certain ways to convey emotion, creating the illusion that this inanimate character is really alive! At the conclusion of the workshop, hard working attendees leave with the completion of an animated character that they brought to life!

Download Course Description

Sound, Image, Time and Space Workshop | Download Application
Cost: $750.00

The Sound, Image, Time & Space Workshop is an immersive program that explores the four media building blocks, and how they are employed by media artists to create emotion and meaning for their audiences. Students in the workshop engage in a series of exercises and experiences designed to build sensory awareness and observations skills, essential tools for all media artists. Screenings and collaborative projects introduce students to many of the fundamental concepts that are at the core of filmmaking, recording arts, animation and game development.

Download Course Description

Flashpoint Academy Film Alum Makes Waves With Independent Critics

Last year, Flashpoint Academy graduated its first class. Among those to walk the stage was Michael Noens (pictured), an extremely talented young filmmaker with a really bright future ahead of him. [Click here for more production stills from Coasting]

While he was attending Flashpoint, I had the pleasure of helping to promote and ultimately attend the premiere of Mike's film Off-Loop, a charming comedy about four friends trying to make their way as writers and stage actors in Chicago. I recall the film itself being genuinely enjoyable. Funny, touching, and memorable, Off-Loop was the centerpiece of a truly spectacular evening, and I was thrilled to see that our students are already starting to carve out their niches in the professional world.

This week marks the first review of Mike's newest feature film, Coasting, by The Independent Critic. I hope some of you will take a couple minutes to read this great review and keep your eyes peeled for upcoming festival screenings.