The University of New Mexico-Gallup has been awarded one of four $40,000 New Mexico Higher Education Department grants to run a film boot camp for high school juniors and seniors. Pamela Stovall, associate professor of communication and journalism at UNM-Gallup, applied for the Film and Media Grant Film Boot Camp.
The grant will be used to buy equipment including cameras and computers. Students from McKinley County Schools and Zuni Public Schools will apply for admission by April 15, and after classes are out, will attend a two-week summer program in acting, directing, video work, editing on the computer and filming around the local area.
“It’s actually learn as you work, and they’ll be doing several film projects,” Stovall said.
Stovall had considerable input from locals in the community as well as UNM-Gallup’s Department of Community Affairs’ Grants division before submitting the grant. She said part of her strategy was to recall Gallup’s and McKinley County’s fabled history as a film location.
Stovall, who has taught at the College of Santa Fe’s Girls’ Film School and is involved in the Santa Fe Screenwriters Conference, says she has a number of local contacts as well as some from the Santa Fe film scene who she plans to tap as instructors.
A premiere of the film the students produce will be shown toward the end of boot camp.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at November 14, 2006 11:13 AM