FILM
Nicholas Martin, Violetta Rulova, Jonathan Peel GAS WOR K S PA R K | North Lake Union
“ ANALYZE, UNDERSTAND, AND EXECUTE I L E A R N E D H OW TO
ALL THE WORKING PARTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO PRODUCING A GREAT FILM, WHILE RECEIVING GUIDANCE AND CRITIQUE FROM FACULTY WITH REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. —GRACE REYER ‘16
FIND YOUR The BFA Film program at Cornish will give you the skills, portfolio, and connections you need to thrive as a visionary filmmaker. Led by Lyall Bush—well-known Seattle writer, editor, and producer— you’ll pursue all aspects of filmmaking across a wide variety of platforms, from innovative fiction to compelling documentary to bold experimental work. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the cutting-edge technology of cinema—cameras, lights, sound— and learn how to write screenplays, make storyboards, direct, edit, create soundtracks, and more for your own films.
VOICE Because Cornish students live and create within a collaborative community of visual and performing artists, you’ll build a broad portfolio of work to showcase your talent: from your own short films to larger films created with a crew of actors, designers, and more. And through it all, we’ll teach you both the art and the business of filmmaking, offering real-world opportunities through internships in the Seattle creative community, local film festivals, and even journeys abroad—so that you’ll be ready for wherever your creative vision takes you.
SEATTLE HOME TO THE NATION’S LARGEST FILM FESTIVAL (AND A N UP -A N D-C O M I N G G LOBA L F I LM ST UDI O YO U MI G HT H AV E H E A R D O F ) SEATTLE IS THE PERFECT PLACE to pursue your artistic education— and Cornish College of the Arts lives right at the heart of it all. Home to the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Art Museum, and SIFF—the nation’s largest film festival—Seattle is a thriving professional community for practicing artists. You’ll find Cornish alumni, faculty, and students creating bold, innovative work all over town. With a white-hot economic base and a truly stunning natural setting,
the greater Seattle area is home to both tech giants, like Microsoft and film studio newcomer Amazon, and natural wonders, like Mount Rainier and Snoqualmie Falls. And as a cultural crossroads with a progressive personality, Seattle is a place where “inclusivity” and “eco-friendly” aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the foundation upon which our city and college thrive. Cornish couldn’t have happened anywhere but Seattle—and we think you’ll thrive here, too.
THE FIRST THING YOU’LL RECEIVE AT CORNISH...
IS EVERYTHING
Your film education begins in our FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM, A SHARED EXPERIENCE FOR ALL VISUAL ARTS STUDENTS. We know artists are stronger in their own craft when they’re exposed to other art forms or diverse media. Opportunities open when students who paint are introduced to design; when interior architects understand film; when designers embrace physical space. We know that many of today’s most innovative artists blur the lines between art forms, experiment widely, and push against boundaries. That’s why Foundations is highly collaborative, working with a small cohort in shared studios to explore both traditional and digital media, with guidance from faculty who are themselves professional artists. We know making and thinking go hand-in-hand, so you’ll tap your curiosity about ideas, experiences, and craft. Most important, we know that artists think deeply and differently; are extraordinarily adaptive, powerful problem-solvers; and possess key transferable skills highly valued in the 21st century society and economy. These skills are front and center in Foundations, with ample opportunity to grow your creative thinking, critical writing, curiosity, and adaptability. Spend your first year in our Foundations Program, AND END THE YEAR READY TO
CREATE WORK YOU NEVER DREAMED YOU COULD.
WALK THROUGH THE HALLS of Main Campus Center in the fall, and you may notice some pretty amazing blue tape artwork decorating the walls. It’s one of the ways students within our Foundations Program discover how a familiar material can be transformed, during a class about line and space. They go as big or small as they want. They present their ideas to classmates and faculty. And they never look at blue tape the same way again.
A DAY IN
THE LIFE
WHY INVEST
IN ARTS COLLEGE?
“OUR CALLING IS TO CREATE POSITIONS FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS, TO IMPROVISE AND BLOW THE CEILING OFF ANYTHING RESEMBLING A LIMITATION.” — CL A IRE CHASE, F LUTIST & MACARTH U R FELLOW
Art has always played a vital role in society. Artists and performers challenge the way people interact with space, with technology, and with each other. Generating new ideas requires artists to not only be able to work in their field, but also to think critically— examining a situation, identifying a problem, and then designing a creative solution. Whether writing a play that highlights social injustice or designing a new skyscraper, artists enlighten us with their ability to examine problems in an entirely new way. When you decide to invest your time and money into a college education, you are faced with a choice: invest in reproducing the techniques of other artists, or invest in a degree that teaches critical problem-solving by generating new art and performance. Hundreds of programs teach basic techniques
or craft in performance or visual arts, but few degrees teach artists how to apply critical thinking skills toward the creation of new work. At Cornish, we believe this immersive training offers the preparation necessary to address any future challenge. Cornish College of the Arts offers a wide range of scholarships and financial aid to support the investment you make in your own future. Our students understand the value of studying in a thriving urban environment with fellow artists and performers, and experience the results of their hard work. As the Cornish artistic community both leads a changing society and adapts to a changing job market, we proudly support our student visionaries who are boldly challenging society to look at the world in a new way.
LEARN MORE AT CORNISH.EDU/FINANCIALAID
MORE THAN 95% OF CORNISH STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS.
THE
ESTABLISHMENT
OF
OUR
standalone BFA Film program in 2015 formalized years of student and alumni study and success across campus. In fact, in that very same year, three Cornish alumni—Canh Nguyen ‘12, Adam McCollom ‘96, and Carlos Esparza ‘07— won the “Audience Choice” Award at SIFF (the nation’s largest film festival) for Even the Walls, their short documentary on a Seattle public housing project.
CONNOR BRUNO
WHAT DO I SEE? THE NARRATOR REMEMBERS SIGNING A MIRROR WITH LIPSTICK, IN THE BORGHESE
STUDENT WORK
GALLERY IN ROME.
HEATHER GARCIA
22
AN EXPERIMENTAL SELF-PORTRAIT USING IMAGE AND VOICEOVER
VIOLETTA RULOVA
CLENCH
A PLAYFUL AND EXPERIMENTAL SELF-PORTRAIT
JONATHAN PEEL
RUN ANITA RUN A YOUNG WOMAN SUFFERING FROM
INSOMNIA TALKS WITH A STRANGER ABOUT HER LIFE.
DID YOU KNOW? Cornish alum Joshua Conkel ‘03 is a scriptwriter for NETFLIX’S second season of the hit show A
SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS.
Cornish instructor Charles Mudede has co-written several films with Robinson Devor, including POLICE premiered at SUNDANCE
BEAT and ZOO , which both
FILM FESTIVAL ; and Zoo was screened at the
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL . Three Cornish alumni won the SIFF
2015 GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE
AUDIENCE AWARD for their work together on the short film Even The Walls. Alumna Colleen Atwood won her fourth ACADEMY
AWARD in 2017 for her costume design on FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. Cornish alum JuJu Kusanagi ‘17 has won multiple awards and screened at 31 FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD for her film itsy bitsy— which she created while a student at Cornish.
5 QUE ST I O N S W I T H
HEATHER GARCIA ‘19 1
Why did you come to Cornish? A good friend of mine was attending, and she encouraged me to apply. I visited Seattle and liked the city so much, my decision was already made before I went back to California.
2
What’s your favorite course? I learned so much in the sophomore screenwriting course—I still use those class notes to help me with current projects.
3
What have you learned that surprised you? The power technology plays in art. Being an artist now, more than ever, means staying connected to relevancy. I kind of hate smartphones and social media, but I see the role they play for artists to showcase work and network.
4
What’s your favorite hangout spot in Seattle? Hard question! I like hanging out in parks mostly, because we don’t have parks like this in the desert. Right under Fremont Bridge, there’s a little scenic bike trail on the canal that connects South Lake Union to the Puget Sound.
5
What will you do next? After I travel abroad for a month or so, I’m planning to move to LA. I want to intern for studios, or maybe find film work right off the bat. We’ll see what happens!
TEAR OUT & KEEP
APPLICATION DEADLINES
SCHOLARSHIPS
DECEMBER 1
Cornish offers merit scholarships based upon the strength of your application and audition/portfolio.
EARLY ACTION DEADLINE
FEBRUARY 15
Photography by Danielle Barnum unless noted. Design by Shannon Loys.
PRIORITY APPLICATION / SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE
Those applying for scholarship consideration should apply by
FEBRUARY 15.
After February 15. applications are accepted on a rolling basis if space is available.
CORNISH FAST FACTS ESTABLISHED
STUDENT ORIGINS
1914
35 states 18 countries
MAJORS
Art, Dance, Design, Film, Interior Architecture, Music, Performance Production, Theater
CAMPUS
3 locations in downtown Seattle: South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, Seattle Center
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
13
ACCREDITATION
FACULTY:STUDENT RATIO
1:7
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, National Association of Schools of Art and Design
CORNISH.EDU/FILM
THE MISSION OF CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
is to provide students aspiring to become practicing artists with an educational program of the highest possible quality, in an environment that nurtures creativity and intellectual curiosity, while preparing them to contribute to society as artists, citizens, and innovators.
ADMISSION@CORNISH.EDU
800.726.ARTS
CORNISH.EDU/FILM
FIND YO UR VO ICE AT
STORY?
WHAT’S YOUR
Cornish College of the Arts 1000 Lenora Street Seattle, WA 98121
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