October 05, 2018
La Roche College Announces Changes to Film, Video and Media Program and Creates Filmmaker-in-Residence Position
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 5,
2018 – La
Roche College’s Film, Video and Media (FVM) program recently underwent
innovative changes, including the creation of a filmmaker-in-residence
position.
Crystal Fortwangler,
Ph.D. is the University’s first filmmaker-in-residence. She earned her
undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh at
Johnstown; her master’s in international relations from the University of
Chicago and her doctorate in anthropology and natural resources from the
University of Michigan.
Dr. Fortwangler’s
film about the influx of green iguanas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, “It Ain’t
Easy Being Green,” was accepted into 12 film festivals, and was named
Best Documentary in one and Best Short Film in another.
La Roche now offers
FVM courses in a blended classroom format that combines online materials from
LinkedIn Learning with in-person instruction from Dr. Fortwangler. Each week
students access and view a playlist Dr. Fortwangler creates. The students then
meet with her in a film and video colloquium where they explore filmmaking and
work on group projects. Teaching assistant Rishi Sethi, a Pittsburgh-based
filmmaker who has worked on numerous film crews, provides day-to-day support.
“Using in-depth,
well-produced, expert material from LinkedIn Learning, along with the
face-to-face classroom collaborative experience with our filmmaker-in-residence,
really gives students the best of both worlds,” Jeff Ritter, Ph.D., department
chair of communications, media and technology, said.
Prior to this
semester, students in the FVM program took classes at Pittsburgh Filmmakers,
which has since cancelled those programs. La Roche students will still be able
to meet and work with local and national filmmakers either in person or via
Skype during the weekly film colloquium. Upcoming presentations include Meg
Koleck on the topic of 360 video production and a teleconference with Ricardo
Sarmiento, a cinematographer and first camera on Spike Lee’s recent film,
“BlacKkKlansman.”
“Not only will
students learn from online tutorials, but they will have access to people who
work in the field,” Dr. Fortwangler said. “One of my goals is to keep students
connected to the broad and diverse Pittsburgh film community.”
To learn more about
the Film, Video and Media program, visit www.laroche.edu.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts
college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50
undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program,
with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology,
and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design.
This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than
1,400 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA
Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in
1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of
all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to
international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong
learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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