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TFTV Director Andy Belser and Molly Gebrian (Asst. Prof, Fred Fox School of Music) investigate the neuroscience of creativity

February 11, 2020

How can we tap the power of the brain to enhance our creativity?

Two new faculty members are making inroads in the field of neuroscience and creativity and bringing it to the realms of theatre and music. Andy Belser, Director of the School of Theatre, Film and Television and Molly Gebrian, Assistant Professor of Viola at the Fred Fox School of Music.

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CanvasRebel, the magazine that focuses on creatives making an impact and generating a living from their art, recently featured School of Theatre, Film & Television & School of Dance alum Sasha Reist (’23). In the feature, Sasha talks about their creative trajectory, the passion for advocacy that propels their work as an artist, and the student film that changed everything.

Sasha, who works as a freelance videographer, choreographer and dancer in NYC, has been immersed in both dance and film from a young age. During her time completing dual degrees at The University of Arizona, Sasha honed their skills creating and filming dance pieces for School of Dance faculty members but it was a short film made in Prof. Jacob Bricca’s Documentary Production class that put them on the map as a filmmaker. The film, CHANGEMENT, tracks the experiences of dancers Cat Cogliandro and Mae Lever amid the deeply traditional artform of ballet, and opens up a discussion around engaging in more inclusive and welcoming language and narratives. “It brought more to my career than I could have ever imagined,” says Sasha. “It was my first experience creating a documentary short and taught me so much about not only film production, but storytelling.”

Following its premiere at What’s Up Docs, TFTV’s annual showcase of student-made documentary shorts, CHANGEMENT was selected to screen at multiple film festivals and was a nominee at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Student Production Awards.

“Creating CHANGEMENT emphasized my purpose in creating art – to use the intersection and combination of dance and film to shed light on queer stories and make the world a better place for not just LGBTQ+ folk, but for everyone. At the end of the day, instilling change to help the LGBTQ+ community benefits EVERYONE.”

Read the CanvasRebel feature: canvasrebel.com/meet-sasha-reist/ ... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago

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🎥✨ Congratulations to Jocelyn Markeson, the Outstanding Senior for Fall 2024 from the School of Theatre, Film & Television and the College of Fine Arts!

azart.fyi/OSJocelynMarkeson

“Jocelyn Markeson distinguishes herself through intelligence, diligence, and integrity. Jocelyn is a classroom trailblazer whose hard work and determination go far beyond minimum requirements and brings out the best in herself and peers,” writes Professor Shane Riches. 🌟

Jocelyn is inspired by the unifying powers of narrative, storytelling, and creative imagery. This passion for the arts led her to write and direct four different short films while at the University while simultaneously building her photography portfolio and experience ... AND while working at Starbucks during her entire college career.

Here’s to a bright future filled with incredible stories and endless possibilities! 👏🎬

azart.fyi/OSJocelynMarkeson ... See MoreSee Less

4 weeks ago

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✨ 🎞 TUESDAY! 🎞 ✨

We’re excited to present the 2024 edition of WHAT’S UP, DOCS?, our annual showcase of outstanding new short documentaries created by BA and BFA students.

This year, watch 13 outstanding new short films exploring topics that are current, newsworthy, poignant, and sublime. Here’s a sample:

• At a Super Smash Bros tournament in the Santa Catalina Foothills, PimpinSpicy and company get “TURNT” while competing in their favorite video game.

• FACING TIDES follows TFTV instructor Rick Wamer and his recent project ‘Requiem for a Reef,’ as he and the ensemble of theatre students work to create an impactful performance about ocean conservation.

• In DEATH MASK, a Native Exorcist leads a paranormal investigation to release trapped spirits, blending Indigenous rituals and modern techniques to reveal a deeper responsibility in ghost hunting.

• FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME follows two Arizona Basketball walk-ons who embody the values of hard work and team spirit, revealing their vital yet often overlooked roles despite limited playing time.

• In REMEMBER OUR LEGACY four generations of women reflect on the profound impact of the Holocaust on their family and their responsibility to carry on the legacy of their elders.

• CONNECTING THREADS is an intimate exploration of cross-stitching, revealing how what seems like a simple pastime for older women is actually a thread weaving many people together.

Dec. 17 at 7pm
Marroney Theatre
FREE (first come, first served)
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

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FINAL FOUR PERFORMANCES✨

Don’t miss the final four performances of our production of Anton Chekhov’s brilliant, tragic play, UNCLE VANYA. Examining the troubles of country life in Russia during the late 19th century, this emotional drama resonates to this day.

In an interview, Isabella Santoni said of her character Sonya: “We’re watching this character search, in real-time, for any scrap of hope or comfort. She chooses to believe in hope — a scraggly, distant, beyond-the-veil sort of hope — but still hope.”

Read more from Isabella and other members of the production in today’s story in the Arizona Daily Star: tucson.com/life-entertainment/local/ua-theater-brings-uncle-vanya-to-stage/article_a4099ec2-b34c-...

Uncle Vanya will have performances through Dec. 8 in the Marroney Theatre. Visit theatre.arizona.edu for tickets.

FREE TICKETS to this production are available for all college and high school students. For details, visit azart.fyi/freetftvtix.

Photos by Julius Schlosburg (@catsphotoshoot).

Scenic Design by Irene Nguyen. Costume Design by Richard Tuckett. Lighting Design by Keelin Connolly. Sound Design by Ellen Sipos. Technical Direction by Daniel Staggs. Stage Managed by Elizabeth Gardner and Bree Urspringer Production Stage Manager Kathryn Kulaga. Intimacy Choreography by Christie Kerr. Fight Direction by Brent Gibbs. Directed by Kevin Black. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

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KGUN 9 recently reported on the School of Theatre, Film & Television’s record high standing in TheWrap‘s Top Film School rankings. TFTV is now the No. 2 public film school in the country and No. 9 overall, following a data-driven evaluation of more than 60 schools. Reporter Jackie Aguilar interviewed BFA Film & Television seniors Allie Cincera and Cosmo Brusa Zappellini and TFTV Professor Lisanne Skyler about the recognition.

“The ranking not only puts School of Theatre, Film & Television on the map, it also puts U of A and Tucson on the map, and we couldn’t be more proud,” said Skyler. “It was really exciting to see when the rankings came out that if you were an aspiring filmmaker, your top choices would be Los Angeles, New York, Boston, the places that you expect, and Tucson.”

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1 month ago

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You know what would make it #1? A feature film program. The kind of interactional development, on-set, and distribution learning experience that we’ve been trying to bring to Tucson. However, the school and its faculty haven’t been inclusive or open to expanding its teaching techniques to include this. I have over two decades of industry experience that includes production and development on the studio level, plus I’m working to provide sustainability for indie film distribution.

Looks like the spot

Awesome! Congrats!!

This past weekend many faculty, students, and staff in the College of Fine Arts and the School of Theatre, Film & Television attended the Arizona Thespian Conference in Phoenix!

Highlights included five faculty workshops, a performance from "Requiem for a Reef," devised by Professor Rick Wamer and Theatre students, and talking to over 200+ students about our new Live and Screened Performance degree!

"It truly was inspiring being in community with so many educators and artists uplifting the up and coming artists of the next generation!" -- Matt Denney

Staff & Faculty who attended:
🎭 Interim TFTV Chair, Brant Pope
🎭 Professor Elaine Romero
🎭 Professor Roweena Mackay
🎭 Professor Rick Wamer
🎭 Professor Irene Nguyen
🎭 Professor Andrew Hoffman
🎭 CFA Recruiter, Matt Denney

Students who attended:
🐻 Kelsie Ramos
🐻 Ryan Feeney
🐻 Victoria Gonzalez
🐻 Jade Belden
🐻 Brie Baker
🐻 Thalita De Andrade
🐻 Julia Ferret
🐻 Taylor Swingle ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago