St. Mary's Park

On July 6, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe was joined by Ghetto Film School (GFS) Founder and President Joe Hall at the St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the Bronx to kick off the summer session of the 2006-07 Fellows Program. The 15-month program will educate the enrolled teenagers on many different aspects of filmmaking and will give the Fellows valuable up-close experience in the film industry.

"Helping City kids get fit is a high priority, but exposing them to arts and culture is equally important," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Thanks to our committed and innovative partners, such as the Ghetto Film School, kids can get hands-on experience in television, film and production and learn about opportunities available to them right here in New York City."

The Ghetto Film School is in its seventh season and has enrolled 17 new Fellows who will complete several projects and an industry internship during the program held at St. Mary’s Recreation Center. The Fellows hail from all over New York City and one even travels all the way from Far Rockaway, a nearly two hour commute, to participate.

GFS President Joe Hall said, "It’s a really strong group. Every year our reputation grows, so we get more applicants."

This year’s group includes George Velez, a 14-year-old and the youngest student ever admitted to the program. A self-professed film buff since elementary school, he has even written several screenplays. This year’s Fellows appear to have a lot in common. "We all share a love for film," said Melissa Murray, 2006-07 GFS Fellow. "My English teacher told me about the program because I used to make a lot of films and do plays at my school."

The Ghetto Film School benefits youngsters with genuine interest in the industry. It aims to educate in a hands-on fashion that will allow the Fellows to use their skills to get accepted into colleges and film schools and even get jobs after the program’s completion. The GFS starts with the basics of filmmaking and then expands to allow the Fellows to produce and edit their own projects.

"We start in the beginning of the summer in a community facility, which is familiar to [the Fellows], and by the end of the summer we move to a post-production facility, once they have learned more about filmmaking," said Hall.

The students’ first project is already consuming their thoughts. These exploratory first films will be completed by the end of the summer and will be screened on September 14, 2006 at the Walter Reade Theatre in Lincoln Center.

The 15-month long program costs about $200,000 a year to run, and benefits greatly from Mayoral funding as well as the generous allocation of classroom space by Parks & Recreation. Both public and private support is vital to the maintenance and growth of the Ghetto Film School.

Last year the Ghetto Film School received the Mayor’s Award for Arts & Culture in recognition of program excellence, and a major capital equipment grant to create an industry-grade post-production facility at 79 Alexander Avenue, near the St. Mary’s Recreation Center.