From The Torchlight Program – for Immediate Attention
Announcement: Interviews for Interns Interested in the Motion Pictures Industry.
Please Contact us during the break or upon your return to FSU beginning January 3rd to request an interview: DATES:
Spring 2011 Interview Dates: Monday-Friday, January 3rd, 2011 to January 10th, 2011
TIME: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Please read more about scheduling an interview and information about the Program below:
News Update December 1st, 2010.
The Torchlight Program has facilitated the production of a new music video with Actor/Director Stephen Baldwin. He is currently in Tallahassee to produce and direct a music video for recording artist Cory Lamb. Florida State University students from film, dance and theater departments, and students participating in The Torchlight Program are currently crewing and assisting in the production of the music video “Break the Cycle”.
Message from the Director of The Torchlight Program, Paul Cohen: We enjoyed another successful semester at the Torchlight Program, filled with wonderful feature film presentations and industry events that were educational and entertaining. Fall 2010 interns had the opportunity to market Phase 4 Films’ Attack on Darfur staring Billy Zane, Scar 3D the first film to be release on Video on Demand for 3D Stereoscopic Television Sets and Sundance Film Festival official selection film The Freebie. Additionally, film genre fans had the opportunity to work on nine (9) horror films through Fangoria® FrightFest™. This gave an opportunity to students in the College of Communications and Information, the Department of English, and College of Motion Picture Arts, among others to contribute to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube pages created by our students. Whether you’re interested in graphic design, social media, writing great synopses, filming or editing, there’s an opportunity to gain at the Torchlight Center and its association with the entertainment industry.
I have been asked to work on the release and marketing of a number of new feature length films during this upcoming semester. This Spring’s release line-up promises to be exciting. The filmography outlines some of the opportunities students and interns have had while participating in The Torchlight Program. Information can be viewed by clicking the following links:
http://film.fsu.edu/Undergraduate-Programs/The-Torchlight-Program
https://film.fsu.edu/torchlight-filmography/
http://film.fsu.edu/Faculty-Administration/Faculty/Producing/Paul-Cohen
The Torchlight Program offers internship opportunities in the motion picture business that I believe students will find to be an interesting and meaningful addition to their spring schedules.
The Torchlight Program at the College of Motion Picture Arts was created to educate students in current and emerging motion picture business practices with a focus on marketing, financing, and distribution strategies that have proven to be effective in releasing feature films. Through strategic relationships with industry professionals, the Torchlight Program facilitates unique internship opportunities that provide students with hands-on experience at motion picture production and distribution companies. For example, we recently arranged for a student to intern as an assistant to the director of a Sundance award winning film. Two students were also able to intern on the production of a feature film that was shot in Kigali, Rwanda.
We also work to identify internship opportunities for students to work with members of the esteemed faculty of professionals who teach at the College of Motion Picture Arts, many who are currently working on creative and professional projects in various stages of development, production, and distribution here in Tallahassee. For example, I am currently offering a non-paying internship that will give students the opportunity to participate in my professional motion picture marketing and distribution activities that occur at the Torchlight Center. My internship requires a minimum attendance of 15 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with flexible hours. I am also offering the opportunity for certain students to play leadership roles if they are available to commit to more than 20 hours per week.
To meet the minimum requirements for internships facilitated through the Torchlight Program, students are required to have a 3.5 GPA, a laptop computer (Mac or PC), and transportation. Any undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in Florida State University are welcome to interview for our internships; these internship opportunities are not restricted solely to the students of the College of Motion Picture Arts.
I will be interviewing students at the Torchlight Center for internship opportunities during the beginning of the Spring 2011 semesters. (Students wishing to intern in the Spring will have the opportunity to add an internship course before the university drop-add deadline). The details are as follows:
Please Contact us during the break or upon your return to FSU beginning January 3rd to request an interview: DATES:
Spring 2011 Interview Dates: Monday-Friday, January 3rd, 2011 to January 10th, 2011
TIME: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
All Interviews Should be Scheduled With My Assistant via E-mail request.
CONTACT: Cat Sullivan
Contact email: pcasstcat@gmail.com
Again: Please contact my assistant Cat Sullivan directly via email to arrange an interview. Additionally, please always add me on the TO: line of the email, after Cat’s. My email address is:
Paul Cohen
E-mail: paulcohenfilm@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE: You must copy me in the TO: line of your email.
THE TORCHLIGHT CENTER location and directions: (click here for a map)
ADDRESS:
Critchfield Hall
387 Commerce Boulevard
Midway, Florida 32343
(Note: The Torchlight Center was originally built for the Allman Brothers Band by Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman as the Pegasus Recording Studio.)
DIRECTIONS: From campus drive 90 W to Commerce Blvd in Midway (Gadsden County), which is at the stoplight just after passing under I-10. Turn hard right (almost a U-turn) onto Commerce Blvd and stay right as you proceed around a winding road. After you pass two new motels on your left you will see a blue-grey art deco building peeking above bushes on your left. Pull into the driveway and park in the upper-left parking lot. Take walkway to glass doors located on the north side of the building.
I am hopeful that you will pass this letter on to your students interested in independent motion pictures, inviting them to contact us at The Torchlight Program to set up an interview for this exciting Spring semester. I look forward to meeting your interested students.
This Spring should be a most incredible time for The Torchlight Program and for independent cinema!
Please contact my assistant Catherine ‘Cat’ Sullivan directly via email to set up an interview.
Cat Sullivan
Email: pcasstcat@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Paul Cohen
Director
The Torchlight Program
The Florida State University
College of Motion Picture Arts
(646) 244-5598
Post Script Notes about The Torchlight Program:
Please click the following link to view a filmography of films that students in the Torchlight Program have had the opportunity to play valuable roles in their success at the national and local level:
https://film.fsu.edu/torchlight-filmography/
In October 2009, The Torchlight Program successfully launched a screening series called The Torchlight Film Series, which will run for the remainder of the year and takes place at the exclusive communities on the Emerald Coast of Florida. One of the sites, Seaside, Fl. was the shooting location for the Jim Carrey hit, The Truman Show. Torchlight students joined me in presenting first run feature films at these communities, promoting the shows and organizing the behind the scenes work. Working with Film School staff, students have the opportunity to assist in the presenting of directors, talent, film critics, and guest speakers to the audiences of the 30-A communities of this region.
During the Summer 2010 and Fall 2010 semesters The Torchlight Film Series continued with the screening of several nationally acclaimed films. In July 2010 The Torchlight Film Series brought the Sundance Audience Award-winning film, FUEL to the 30A beaches, where the screening of the film was followed by a Q&A with the director and producer Josh and Rebecca Tickell. In August 2010 the Cannes Semaine de la Critique selection, The Myth of the American Sleepover, was screened followed by a Q&A with the director and the editor of the film, David Mitchell and Julio Perez. Finally, during the Fall 2010 semester students had the opportunity to screen selected clips of actress Lori Singer’s work including clips from films such as Short Cuts and Footloose. The audience was also able to engage in conversation with the star after the screening.
Additionally, screenings for the Torchlight film series take place in Jacksonville (screenings in St. Augustine and other regions of Florida are being scheduled for 2011). In October 2010, The Torchlight Film Screening Series presented the world premier of the film Thespians at the 2010 Jacksonville Film Festival. Often students are available to join me because these screenings take place during the weekends and do not interfere with class. We are planning to re-visit a number of screening locations as well as develop new venues to screen feature films to expand the contemporary voice of independent cinema in Florida during this semester.
The Torchlight Program Screening Series has also played a role in the Tallahassee Film Festival each year. At the 2010 Tallahassee Film Festival the Torchlight Program was responsible for bringing the Award-winning documentary film, Collapse, and the special sneak preview of the documentary film, Thespians.
This year the Torchlight Program has once again invited Geoffrey Gilmore (former director of the Sundance Film Festival and currently Chief Creative Officer of Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Enterprises) to present a new feature independent film, Blue Valentine, and the film’s director, Derek Cianfrance at the 2010 7 Days of Opening Nights event in Tallahassee on February 14th. Students were able to be part of the event and helped arrange and manage the presentation of this show.
We have had an incredible run of wonderful internship opportunities. Those interns selected to work with me in my professional endeavors this past year worked on the Oscar-nominated The Baader Meinhof Complex the summer and fall of 2009 with openings in theaters throughout the country as well as nationally on DVD. This experience proved to be a real learning opportunity for the interns. Interns also worked on the recently Oscar short-listed documentary film, Valentino: The Last Emperor. In this past year alone, selected interns had the opportunity to work on the The Cove’s Oscar campaign and felt the fruits of their labor when it won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary. Interns in the Spring 2010 semester have also had the opportunity to market the Award-winning documentary, Collapse, on the pre-release of the film, St. John of Las Vegas starring Steve Buscemi, and Sarah Silverman for its premiere in the Big Bend of Florida, the highly anticipated film, Paper Man starring Jeff Daniels, Lisa Kudrow, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds, marketing it for its national theatrical release, and marketing the documentary film, Thespians during its pre-release. Summer 2010 interns had the opportunity to market Independent Film Company (IFC) Films’ , critically acclaimed documentary, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (Please see below an example of email blast art created by Torchlight Center students) along with other IFC Films’ such as Looking For Eric. Selected interns will have the opportunity to continue the marketing initiatives for these films in the Spring 2011 semester. Additionally, I have been asked to work on a number of new feature length films during this upcoming spring semester.
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1815 Thomasville Road ⋄ Tallahassee, FL 32303 ⋄ 850-224-2617
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