The Films of Brooklyn Fire Proof Classroom - 4/12/19

RADICAL NEW FILM WORKSHOP PROGRAM CREATED BY BROOKLYN FIRE PROOF, INAUGURAL SCREENING ANNOUNCED

Brooklyn Fire Proof Classroom Brings Together Legendary Filmmaking Collective Millennium Film Workshop and Job Path for New Media Education

BROOKLYN, NY - Brooklyn Fire Proof (BFP), the creative complex of movie studios, artists' workspaces, and art galleries located in Bushwick is pleased to announce a new initiative launched in early 2019: Brooklyn Fire Proof Classroom. The first step of the program aims to bring filmmaking education and skills to members of the New York community with no previous filmmaking education, while utilizing a simple, and universal tool: the cell phone. To commend the completion of the first workshop series, BFP will present a free, open-to-the-public screening of the completed films, along with a short documentary about the program, at Brooklyn Fire Proof on Friday, April 12 at 7:30pm. The filmmakers, programmers and educators will all be in attendance.

The BFP Classroom initiative has come together thanks to key organizations that BFP has worked with over the past decade, bringing together the Millennium Film Workshop and Job Path as partners this inaugural session. Together they’ve launched a “new media” filmmaking class, with an emphasis on cell phone filmmaking, utilizing avant- garde techniques. The creator of the BFP Classroom program, Kenneth Filmer, BFP’s Director of Stages, Production and Programming elaborates: “The goal of Brooklyn Fire Proof Classroom is to give people filmmaking skills who might not ordinarily be making films. Despite the talk about diversity in the media, most films still seem to be made by well-to-do, fancifully educated types. We want to see the students become skilled filmmakers, and hopefully eventually film professionals (a second-tier, job placement program is in the planning phases). And for purely personal reasons, I just want to see the films created as a result of the program.”

The Millennium Film Workshop, a renowned NYC-based experimental film organization, took the lead on instruction. The four Classroom sessions were led by Millennium’s Joey Huertas & Paul Echeverria and taught students the basics of screenwriting, production, editing, screening and distribution (all within the cell phone). Students were selected by Job Path, a NYC organization focused on assisting those with developmental disabilities to live independent lives.

During the break in the workshop’s 5-week schedule, a gallery show—“The Exhibitions”—ran for two weeks in one of BFPs on-site galleries. The group show was co-curated by Art//Division’s founders, Johnny Mattei and Robert Hill, and BFP’s curatorial arm, BFP Creative, and offered a look into a journey through the lives of the artists. 


The inaugural workshops, and the associated art show, were both successes, and BFP looks forward to planning its next round of Classroom workshops and seeking new partners to collaborate with. To close the kick-off season Brooklyn Fire Proof will publicly premiere the initial students’ films, as well as a documentary made throughout the process.

For more information about Brooklyn Fire Proof Classroom, or to get involved, email kenneth@brooklynfireproof.com.

“The Films of Brooklyn Fire Proof Classroom”

In Association with Millennium Film Workshop and Job Path

At Brooklyn Fire Proof’s Seltzer Room Studios, 102 Ingraham St., Brooklyn, NY 11237 Friday, April 12, 2019, 730pm
FREE - Seating will be available for approximately 160 people and will be first-come, first-served.

ABOUT BROOKLYN FIRE PROOF:

Brooklyn Fire Proof is a multi-arts complex in Bushwick, Brooklyn. It encompasses full- service film and television studios, artists' workspaces and art galleries. Since its founding in 1999 by Thomas Burr Dodd, they've worked with a dizzying array of filmmakers, artists, musicians, and other creatives from all over the world. Brooklyn Fire Proof’s 2016 Summer Screening Series—created, programmed and hosted by Kenneth Filmer—brought in a number of interesting collaborators and co-hosts from the art and film worlds, including Marcel Dzama, PFFR's John Lee, and Nick Zedd. The series was listed in Brooklyn Magazine's top 25 summer film events and was an Artnet editor's pick.

ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FILM WORKSHOP:

The Millennium Film Workshop is an NYC-based non-profit organization that has

pioneered filmmaking workshops since its founding in 1966, and is dedicated to the exhibition, study, and practice of avant-garde and experimental cinema. Joey Huertas is the Executive Director of the Millennium Film Workshop, and is an award winning film & performance artist, social worker and art therapist. He also runs his own DIY underground monthly film screening/reading series called Hijack! Paul Echeverria is an assistant professor of communication & media arts at Western Connecticut State University and the founding director of the Digital and Interactive Media Arts (DIMA) program, and Millennium Film Workshop board member.

ABOUT JOB PATH:

Job Path is an organization that helps people with autism, intellectual and other developmental disabilities find stable and satisfying employment, live in their own homes and contribute their skills and talents to community life. Established in 1978, Job Path was also a pioneer, being the first organization of its kind in New York State and one of the first in the country. Last year the people Job Path supports worked at close to 100 different businesses and not-for-profit organization across New York City. Job Path’s art program, Art//Division, was built to reinforce the idea that art is for everyone, regardless of backgrounds or life experiences.