New student orientation kicked off today for Tribeca Flashpoint’s Class of 2012. Students heard from President and CEO Howard Tullman, Academic Dean Paula M. Froehle, and the chairs of their respective departments.

Recording Arts students hear from John Murray and Tom Blakemore:

Perry Harovas speaks to the newest class of Visual Effects & Animation students:

Ted Gordon and Chad Kent meet our future Game & Interactive Media professionals:

Students gather in the Matrix to hear from Peter Hawley, Chair of Film & Broadcast:

“Their portfolios blew me away. But really, it was their professionalism that was most impressive.” – Employer Quote from Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy’s inaugural job fair, Saturday, May 1, 2010.

With their resumes, portfolios and reels perfected, upcoming May 2010 graduates in Film & Broadcast, Recording Arts, Game & Interactive Media, and Animation & Visual Effects had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the heavy hitters of Digital Media Production.

As excited as our students were to meet with representatives from industry professionals nationwide, the recruiters themselves — representing companies such as Pilgrim Films, Disney Television Animation, Jellyvision, TLC (The Learning Channel), WB Games Chicago, and many more — were every bit as excited to meet the Tribeca Flashpoint Class of 2010.

A few quotes from employers:

“We came back to find another [2009 Flashpoint Graduate]. He was so great, we’re sure to find another here!”

“Why would I pay an agency $80K to do a spec spot, when I can give to the scholarship fund and work with a better group of talented individuals like your students.”

“I’m so glad to hear about Core Studies being such a focus at your institution. I was just interviewing a Harvard grad with a 4.0 – who couldn’t even look at me when he spoke!”

Congratulations to everyone who made the first Tribeca Flashpoint Job Fair a tremendous success, and an enthusiastic “well done” to our truly amazing soon-to-be graduates!

On Friday, April 23rd, 2010, guest speaker Chris Conley of Gravity Tank spoke to students as a part of Tribeca Flashpoint’s Jumpstart speaker series. 2011 Recording Arts student Andrew Shabat shares his reflections.

“Today, Tribeca Flashpoint students had the opportunity to gather and learn some valuable lessons from entrepreneur, Chris Conley, Co-founder of Gravity Tank.

“Using multiple mediums of presentation, Conley passionately weaved his way through the process of creative innovation in an economic driven society. Looking past his humorous use of an effective multi-media presentation, Conley’s enthusiasm for the creative process proved most note-worthy.

“He made an extremely poignant remark about the difference between ideas and actual product. Many times, for those of us in creative fields, we become consumed in conceptualizing rather than taking the initiative to produce a tangible realization of that idea. Often times, it is not until we have that product staring back at us that we can take the next steps to propel the idea forward. It is at this point that others have a medium beyond just thought, that true collaboration can effectively begin.

“He expressed the need to openly listen to our collaborators so that we can begin to assess the realization of our concepts. Whether these ideas hold economic or social value, nothing can be implemented without the understanding and acceptance of those around us.”

On Monday THUNK, Northwestern University’s premiere a cappella group, visited Tribeca Flashpoint to conduct a recording session with a Recording Arts Studio II Class.

THUNK’s talented young musicians collaborated with our second year recording students to produce 4 tracks for their new album; including covers of Wake Up Call by Maroon 5 and I’m Yours by Jason Mraz. Sales of this album will help to fund THUNK’s bi-annual musical outreach tour to Cape Town, South Africa.

(Video: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=572607542755)

THUNK has travelled the world and recorded their music in many professional studios. They were extremely impressed by Tribeca Flashpoint, not only with the state-of-the-art studio and equipment but also with the professionalism and passion of our student engineers.

Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy congratulates Recording Arts faculty Miguel Kertsman on the release of his new album, Time? What’s Time? A labor of love over 10 years in the making, Time? What’s Time? features collaborations with other artists on three different continents recording in Los Angeles, New York, Vienna, Brazil and Florida’s “Space Coast.”

Upon the album’s release, Mr. Kertsman reflected upon the ways in which the atmosphere and talent at Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy helped to make Time? What’s Time? come together.

“At Flashpoint, not just in one city, but within literally one building, there is so much great energy and potential for collaboration, I found myself engaging with colleagues / friends, and organically orientating the record’s final development to a new direction on its packaging, presentation, and companion content; changing the original plans. I feel very fortunate to have collaborated with [Game & Interactive Media student] Heath Marks, [Film & Broadcast faculty] Killian Heilsberg, [Film & Broadcast student] Ted Wilkinson, [Recording Arts faculty] Bernie Mack, and [Game & Interactive Media faculty] Alan Reck on those final project aspects.

“Words don’t describe how genuinely appreciative I am, and how inspiring it has been working with them, and for that Flashpoint is to be thanked. Needless to say (but I do anyway) [Tribeca Flashpoint] is a fantastic fertile ground for artistic synergies, and cool things to happen, as we all experience practically on a daily basis.”

The physical record, when purchased from www.miguelkertsmanmusic.com, comes with a companion computer game, “Coniclysm” by ZoopTek (a creation of Game & Interactive Media faculty Alan Reck), 8 panels of original images by Tribeca Flashpoint student Heath Marks, a complete booklet, lyrics, and a digital wallpaper gallery of album artwork. The album is also available on Amazon.com, iTunes.com, and at various retail outlets.

• Purchase Miguel Kertsman’s Time? What’s Time? with bonus content
• Watch the music video: “The Calling” from Time? What’s Time?, by Tribeca Flashpoint student Ted Wilkinson

The March 2010 issue of AP Magazine called Cavashawn Chicago’s “Hometown Hero.” Via Flashpoint’s association with Grammy U, Cavashawn came into our studios for a terrific day-long workshop with both first and second year Recording Arts students. This is another wonderful example of FPA’s connection to industry professionals and regular opportunities for our students to engineer bona-fide real-world recording sessions.

Vincent Guisetti is a Hollywood Foley artist with experience working on more than 350 films, TV shows, and cartoons including Passion of the Christ, Mr. Brooks, Hostel parts I & II, The Pursuit of Happyness, Talladega Nights, Behind Enemy Lines, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Guisetti shared stories about his experiences and some of his trade secrets to creating unique sounds behind-the-scenes.