Tisch Special Programs

Here's a music video for Fleet Foxes' White Winter Hymnal made by Baldocchi, Alana Bonilla, Alec Isaacs and Charlie Redd for the Tisch summer High School Program. Enjoy!

Jennifer Jaffe, a former student of the Tisch School of the Arts Summer High School Program, was awarded Best Screenplay at the 2009 Youth Film Showcase of the Newport Beach Film Festival.

"It was a screenplay I wrote for a short film called Johnny Goner. I developed the idea during the high school program and then turned it into a screenplay the following year. It's the story of a hypochondriac who works at a funeral home," said Jennifer.

Watch the trailer at www.johnnygonerthemovie.com.

Jennifer studied playwriting and screenwriting with the Rita and Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at Tisch, where she is now an undergraduate student.

The Tisch Summer High School Program offers four weeks of professional training in acting, dramatic writing, filmmaking, and photography. Programs are offered in New York City, Dublin, and Paris.

What started as a play Mitch Sunderland wrote in the Tisch School of the Arts Summer High School Program later turned out to be a winner at the District 13 Florida State Thespian Competition.

Mitch Sunderland was a student in the Tisch Summer High School Program in 2008 and went on to receive the Critics Choice award at the Thespian competition. Here's the latest from Mitch:

In Florida the high school Thespian competition is a big thing. In my district 20-25 plays were submitted for the playwriting category and mine and three others were chosen to have a small reading and judging at the state fair in April in Tampa. I wrote the play at the program. After the program I've just been keeping up with my writing, community service, and school work during junior year.

During the summer Tisch School of the Arts offers high school students professional training in dramatic writing as well as acting, filmmaking and photography. Students earn six college credits. To learn more and to apply for the programs in New York City, Dublin, or Paris visit Summer High School.

That's a phrase we heard a lot here at TSP following last year's Summer High School program. "The best summer ever," and its many variations, rang through the halls as our students left Tisch and went their separate ways. But don't take our word for it—read it straight from one of our former students, Patrick Varner, in his blog chronicling his experience in our CAP21 Musical Theatre Performance program. Here's a sample and link to his blog:

I feel as if my own words cannot adequately express what this summer meant to me. I learned things and felt things for people that I never dreamed possible. I have come out a better actor, and more importantly a better person. I am so happy with the person I am today, whether that means NYU changed me into who I want to be, or it just helped me realize that I have always been there and I have finally accepted that. It gave me contentment and also restlessness. How am I supposed to go back to the mundane world of High School after living on my own in New York for a month? Only time will tell, but lord knows I will savor my senior year, and relish in its tiny victories, its rigors, and my wonderful, incredible friends. There have been many people on facebook trying to really fit these amazing few weeks within the confines of this seemingly small white space, so I leave it to them to express my own thoughts and feelings.

One of my best friends in the program, David:

"Now I don't usually indulge in this type of public display of sentiment, especially when its open to anyone who wants to read it. It's just not my style. However, I felt that this might be an exception. I didn't really get to say all I needed to when I left you guys, and I feel like I never got to let you all know how I feel. So now I will make that known. This is my last token of appreciation- my thank-you to you all for changing my life forever.

I was thinking tonight about what exactly made my time here so enjoyable. Certainly it was the training, and probably New York City as well. I've learned more here than I ever did in my entire lifetime- and the experience has been invaluable.

However, I think what separates this experience from the rest is the people. Never in my life have I encountered such a loving, open, warm, and generous group of people. I come from a place where theatre is a cutthroat competition- where superiority and egos reign supreme. Before I came here, I understood theatre as a breeding ground for ill will and hatred. (And I will admit, every once in a while I did take part in the type of behavior I now despise.) But here, I have come across a new form of theatre. It is a form of theatre in which everyone is kind, encouraging, and always warm. No one here preoccupies him or herself with comparing him or herself to his or her fellow actors. No one talks about anyone else's faults behind another's back. No one thinks that he or she is better than any other single individual. That is very new to me, and it has opened my eyes to a school of thought that I had forgotten about in my time in high school- that theatre is a collaborative art, and that the job of the actor is to encourage his or her partner onstage. Everyone here has helped me rediscover this ideal, because unfortunately I had forgotten it a long time ago.

So I leave Tisch Summer High enjoying the memories and savoring my 63 new friendships. But I also leave with a new state of mind- with a determination to act in a way that reflects the actions of everyone here at NYU. I leave a new man- a better man.

No one ever laughed at me when I flailed around in ballet. No one shot a snarky look at their neighbor when I cracked on a top note. No one tried to put me down or criticize me. Instead, I always received positive feedback and a flurry of compliments- compliments that could have been left unsaid, but were instead bestowed upon me by some of the most generous, loving people I know. You should all know that you're very special, and that you are unlike anyone I have ever met.

Tisch Summer High has changed my life forever, and it was all because of you. I love you all and will miss you dearly. Hopefully, I will be seeing you all very, very soon. It is my utmost wish that I share a stage with each and every one of you in the near future- and I know all of you will go very, very far.

Thanks for the best summer of my life.

-David
=)"

My substitute mom, group leader (PA) and one of the greatest people I have ever met, PJ.

"I sat on your beds today, all of you, after you left me and the hall was filled with nothing but unwanted objects and the faint, haunting echoes of your voices, reminding me of those who had just gone. As I sat, sometimes crossed-legged, sometimes feet on the floor, and sometimes knees to my chest, I tried my hardest to feel you. I tried to feel whatever little bit of you was left in the room. Whether it be the scent of you fading with the open door, or some bobby-pins or paper left behind, I wanted to take it all in. I needed something more. I felt it all wasn't complete, that it couldn't be over. But finally, I realized, what I was trying to take in, and to send to you, was the love. I was hoping that some little bit of your soul, your love, was hidden on that sheet-less bed in that barren room waiting for me to come and collect it. And as I tried and tried and tried to let it all sink in, it hit me - it all already had. Despite the fact that these 4 weeks felt like 4 days, despite the fact that we may have been close for the whole time or for only a few days, despite the fights and the rumors and the meetings and the sticky spots, despite it all...we had managed to love each other harder, faster, better, and stronger than I have ever seen anyone love before.
I know I've thanked you already, but I want to thank you again for making this one of the best summers of my life. You all are wonderful people with so much to give to this world. All of you will go far and do great things. And I hope, however far you go and however great you become, you always know you have a friend in me.
Love you guys."

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for partaking in the greatest summer of my short life.
<3
-Patrick

Thanks Patrick!

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This past summer, Tisch Summer High School students in the Photography program blogged about their experience. For any high school student interested in the daily nitty-gritty of the summer program, this blog is a must read. Here's a sample:

As the bright light shined through each of our windows early this morning, some of us rushed to grab our cameras and take a picture of ourselves. As artistic photographers, one may be quick to think that such a spontaneous, unplanned action would be out of the realm of mainstream art. However, throughout the day many students took a picture of themselves every half hour. These images will culminate in a final project that combines these images to create a progression of the person's day. So, as we dragged ourselves out of bed-some earlier than others-we were sure to take a timer in an effort to systematically complete the assignment.

When we reached 721 Broadway-our third home- we were met with a two stunning presentations by two of our amazingly talented TA's. Both Alicia and Michael showed the class their past and present work. Personally, I thought it was extremely interesting to see the images created by these artists during their high school years. Anywho, we should all know by now that the photography kids are never simply being lazy. So, following this regiment, shortly following the two presentations, we set out for the Bronx museum of art. Inside the museum, there was a magnificent display of Jamel Shabazz's work. This artist definitely served as an inspiration for myself and I am sure others in the group. I'm also sure that everyone is very excited to meet him when he comes to visit our class next week.

Oh and I must not forget the famous box lunches we consumed while sitting on the sidewalk outside of the museum. Interestingly enough, the sandwich improved for some and for others-not so much. Such a fluctuation may be caused by the new and "improved" form we now fill out while ordering the lunches.

Following the museum visit, we took the subway back to NYU. As always, the ride was full of flash fighting and hilarious conversations. When we arrived at Weinstein, we quickly had dinner in the dining hall and then we were yet again off on another adventure-the New York Mets game. Our seats in the back of the stadium were definitely situated with some real fans and those wearing red were probably a bit scared.

As we returned to the dorm, everyone looked exhausted, but the cameras were still flashing and the voices were still echoing. Although our eyes may be half closed, we are always ready for the image.

So, I'm sure a lot of people are just finishing up taking their last photo of the day and I myself am extremely tired.

Until next time,

Britt

There's much more over at ZipZapSnap!