The Producers’ Project

Seeking Motivated Students for Two Fall 2002 After-School Documentary Film Programs
October 23, 2002 to January 25, 2003 * Wrap Party: February 2003
Math or Science Elective Credit will be Awarded upon Successful Completion

The Producers’ Project is a not-for-profit education program that aims to improve and enliven the art and science of teaching, learning and testing by putting powerful tools of production, presentation and self-directed learning into the hands of high school students and staff.

During the course of two accredited after-school programs, students and teachers will work with experts to produce a 10- to 30-minute video documentary and website (including personal pages, polls, activities, etc.) that corresponds with each course. Guest experts from related industries, documentary makers and web programmers will instruct and support areas of research, journalism, photography, web and video production, presentation and more. In Feburary 2003, the website and documentary will be presented at an invitation-only Wrap Party for participants, parents and press.

The Producers’ Project is currently seeking up to 15 motivated students for each of the following programs:

Math: Easy as Pi?

From the math our bodies do on a moment-by-moment basis to math’s leading role in areas ranging from navigation, construction, technology and economy to art, music and more, students will explore underlying and overarching principles, and will choose an enticing math topic from among the above as the focus of their own inquiry, discovery and documentary. Depending upon the topic chosen and the availability of speakers, guest experts might include Leon Gruenbaum of Math Camp (lead man of the popular music group, and an inventor of math-based musical instruments), Kevin Jones of Math Boat (a software programmer who teaches math via sailing), Ntiedo Etuk and Robert Clegg of Tabula Digita (designers of math-based games and teaching tools), Gary Welz (mathtermind and math video maker), and/or others.

Science: The Interdependence of Life

How related are we, really? More than you might imagine. It is said that what separates the DNA of man from other species could fit on a floppy drive; while the elements that make us same could not be contained on a mainframe. And while it is said that “we are what we eat,” we are even more so what we drink. (Think WATER!) After a sometimes-surprising overview of inter-connectedness (personal, environmental, evolutionary and more), students will choose an area of passion to explore, experiment in, document and present. Depending upon the topic chosen and the availability of speakers, guest experts could include “Natural History of the Senses” author Diane Ackerman, primatologist Jane Goodall, musicologist David Rothenberg, and/or others.

Fall 2002 Producers' Project, October 23, 2002 - January 25, 2003
Place: Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology, 47-07 30th Place, Long Island City, 718/472-5671, http://rfwagnerjr.org/, with field visits to relevant sites.

Time:

Math: Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30, Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Science: Mondays from 3:30 to 5:30, Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Math Schedule for Fall 2002:

Oct.: 23 (Wed), 30 (Wed)
Nov.: 1 (Sat), 6 (Wed), 13 (Wed), 16 (Sat), 20 (Wed)
Dec.: 4 (Wed), 7 (Sat), 11 (Wed), 14 (Sat), 18 (Wed)
Jan.: 11 (Sat), 15 (Wed), 18 (Sat), 22 (Wed), 25 (Sat

Science Schedule for Fall 2002:

Oct.: 23 (Wed), 28 (Mon)
Nov.: 1 (Sat), 4 (Mon), 11 (Mon), 16 (Sat), 18 (Mon)
Dec.: 2 (Mon), 7 (Sat), 9 (Mon), 14 (Sat), 16 (Mon)
Jan: 11 (Sat), 13 (Mon), 18 (Sat), 20 (Mon), 25 (Sat)

*Times and locations -- including of field trips to relevant sites -- are subject to change and confirmation.

Students must be nominated by a teacher, with applications due no later than October 18, 2002, to:
Wendy Dubit, Vergant
77 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2C New York, NY 10003
212/873-8158; fax: 212/463-9221; e-mail wendy@vergant.com

To be eligible, applicants must be nominated for the program by their teachers, should have an interest in documentary film-making, web production and subject areas (some pre-requisite word processing is recommended), a can-do attitude, a solid attendance record and a willingness to share new skills with others. Participants must be free for the entire period and must complete the application that follows. Up to 15 students will be chosen for each after-school program. The Producers’ Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion or religious affiliation.

Applicant Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

Parent's name: _______________Telephone Number (___) __________________________

How did you hear about The Producers’ Project? ___________________________________

Applicant’s e-mail address: _____________________________________________________

School Name and Address: _____________________________________________________

Nominating Teacher name, phone & e-mail: _______________________________________

After-School Program: Math ____; Science_____

Interest: Website _____; Research & Writing _____; Film Crew _____ (if more than one, please rank)

*********Fall ‘02 Producers’ Project Selection Questions********

Please write your answers on a separate piece of paper (take as much or as little space as you need) or type them in a word-processing document. Number each question. Return both this page and the page(s) you write on. Please ask a teacher to write a brief recommendation and include it with this form. Once a student is accepted, parental consent forms must be signed.

All Applicants:
1. What, if any, computer/programming skills do you have or hope to develop? (Required for Website squad)

2. What, if any, video production skills do you have or hope to develop? (Required for Film Crew squad)

3. What, if any, writing/research skills do you have or hope to develop? (Required for Writing/Research squad)

4. What do you hope to get out of The Producers’ Project? How might you plan to use the skills you develop in this program, in school, in your career and in your community?

Math Program Applicants only:

5. In what ways do you think Math matters in the real world?

6. What Math knowledge/proficiency are you most interested in acquiring, and why?

Science Program Applicants only:

7. Please share your thoughts on two or more life forms that might be interdependent on the environment and/or each other.

8. What related areas are you most interested in studying, and why?

All Applicants:

9. What does it mean to you to be a Producer…in school and in life?

10. If you were to produce a 10-minute video about your Producers’ Project subject, describe what you would need to learn to write the script.

Applications -- all of which should arrive no later than October 18, 2002 -- should be submitted via e-mail, mail or fax, along with a letter of recommendation from the nominating teacher, to:

Wendy Dubit, Vergant
77 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2C New York, NY 10003
212/873-8158; fax: 212/463-9221; e-mail wendy@vergant.com