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Aspiring Young Filmakers From The Bronx Journey To Uganda To Fullfill Cinematic Dreams

The Ghetto Film School (GFS) announced its plans to send 10 aspiring filmmakers to Kampala, Uganda for its fourth student thesis film project. Based in the South Bronx, the Ghetto Film School is an award winning, youth-media, non-profit organization that aims to connect talented young people to artistic career opportunities in film and video.

Since its inception in 2000, GFS has provided 400 aspiring filmmakers with no-cost classic film school education and competitive internships. GFS exists through the generous support of city grants, corporate partnerships, earned income through its Digital Bodega production company and a roster of celebrity supporters and industry insiders. The Ghetto Film School curriculum is a rigorous 15-month training program that culminates with a group thesis film that is produced and directed abroad.

On June 23, 2008 select GFS students will take a two day flight to Africa to bring a student-written film to life. Working under a strict budget and limited timeline, they will be faced with the challenge of creating a short motion picture in a very unfamiliar, real world setting. Working as a group throughout the year, ten students from the program have competed for the roles of Writer, Director, and Cinematographer and will be responsible for all aspects of the film making process. Written, by Teresa Dilworth, age 19, this year’s script entitled “Live, Joseph” tells the tale of a middle aged man living in Kampala, Uganda who is bitten by a poisonous snake and only has 24-hours to live. In years past, the Fellows have traveled to Mexico City and Paris and next year’s project will take place in Shanghai, China.

At the heart of The Ghetto Film School is former social worker turned non-profit entrepreneur, Joe Hall. In 1999, well into a South Bronx community development career, Joe followed his longtime cinematic dreams and enrolled in one of the most prestigious film schools in the country. While there, he realized that all of the talented young people he had once worked with during his social work days had limited access to top notch film schools and the film industry.

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NEW YORK - The New York Empowerment Zone Corporation Friday approved funding totaling over $2 million for five programs aimed at stimulating economic growth in the Bronx and upper Manhattan.

Among the programs approved were:

* $250,000 to the Ghetto Film School for construction costs associated with the build-out of administrative offices and editing suites supporting the media production facilities at the school’s Digital Bodega film production studio.
  * $678,193 to support the Hispanic Federation Inc.’s direct and indirect costs for incubating the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and supporting its operating costs.
  * $500,000 to help the Manhattan Neighborhood Network renovate a historic East Harlem-based firehouse into a media arts and broadcast center.
  * $442,921 for the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center Inc. for technical assistance, workforce expansion and associated organizational capacity-building activities.
  * $150,000 to the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music to implement key recommendations of a prior organizational assessment.

Created to revitalize Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx, the New York Empowerment Zone Corporation uses public funds and tax incentives to encourage private investments in these areas. Since its formation, the empowerment zone corporation has disbursed $211,381,364 to support businesses and community groups in the zone. Read more..

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