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SFCC Film Students Get a Grip
FEATURE
SFCC Film Students Get a Grip he’s studied in class, and the material he learns in class improves his abilities on set.
In addition to hiring SFCC students, “Longmire” has used the SFCC and HEC campuses as sets.
Since 2011, New Mexico has hosted more than 80 film and television projects with budgets over $1 million, and provided employees with nearly a million days of work. Successful television shows such as “Breaking Bad,” “Longmire” and “Manhattan” have put New Mexico on the map as a major destination for high-quality network production. In the first half of 2015, nine potential blockbuster productions were filmed in the state, including the sequel to “Independence Day,” Seth Rogen’s “Preacher” series, and new films starring Adam Sandler and Tina Fey.
“IT REALLY IMPRESSES THE DIRECTORS WHEN SOMETHING I LEARN IN CLASS MAKES ME PERFORM BETTER ON THE JOB.” ~ Oscar Cifuentes SFCC Film Student It’s safe to say that for residents of New Mexico, a career in film and television production is an exciting option, with huge room for growth. SFCC’s Film Program is preparing students for this developing industry, providing not only knowledge and training, but good professional connections and much needed on-set experience. Film student Oscar Cifuentes says he has benefitted greatly from SFCC’s film experts and high-tech resources. According to Cifuentes, SFCC has provided the perfect mix for success, and the résumé to get him through the door: he has worked on such productions as “Better Call Saul,” “Nightshift,” “Longmire” and “Preacher.” It is not working with famous actors or the glamor of the job he loves most; it’s the familiarity and know-how he is acquiring. The valuable lessons he learns on set reinforce what 2
“Every day on the set, I am learning so much,” he said. “I’m always paying attention to the directors and crew and cameramen. I see how the actors are lighted, how the camera moves effectively, how directors get what they want from a performance. But there are so many details that you need to learn from the classroom. It really impresses the directors when something I learn in class makes me perform better on the job, when I can anticipate what my bosses want because I understand the big picture.”
For now, Cifuentes loves his job as a grip – a rigging and lighting technician – but he has ambitions to produce and direct his own feature films. This is why he finds his education at SFCC to be so crucial. He is learning film theory, critical approaches to moviemaking, cinematography, production techniques, and all of the information he needs to eventually be a successful director in his own right. And all the while, he is earning good money on the job. Recently, in film instructor Milton Riess’ class Directing and Producing Independent Film, Cifuentes wrote and completed four short films, several of which he plans to submit to national film festivals. “I hope to continue shooting my projects and learning while working on all these great shows and movies.” There has never been a better time to be an aspiring filmmaker or production-crew member. With all of the television shows and films being produced in New Mexico, the opportunities are limitless. According to Cifuentes, classes such as Milton Riess’ close the gaps: “We learn how to create, shoot and edit a movie. After all, a successful career in film or television requires a good balance between education and experience.”
Robert Taylor (left) and Lou Diamond Phillips, co-stars of the Netflix television series “Longmire.”
GIVING
As part of its commitment to expanding student experience, the SFCC Foundation raises money to support the Culinary Arts Study Abroad program. Earlier this year, Culinary Arts students planned, prepared and presented a Valentine’s dinner. Proceeds helped pay for a 19-day educational trip to Italy. Chef-Instructor Patrick Mares and students Nelson Edmonds, Kelvin Aguilar and Julie Meria (pictured below) worked with top Italian chefs to hone their culinary skills.
Alcalde native Nelson Edmonds is a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The culinary arts student used his $4,500 scholarship to participate in this summer’s Culinary Arts Study Abroad Program. He is in elite company. SFCC’s Gilman Scholar adviser Jane Abbott said, “Edmonds is one of the three percent of community college students nationally to earn this prestigious scholarship.” Since his return, Edmonds was hired as the chef at Casa Chimayo Restaurante in downtown Santa Fe, and he continues his studies in culinary arts at the college.
“The SFCC Foundation’s fundraiser SFCC Loves to Cook for Company was one of our most successful events this year,” said Deborah Boldt, Executive Director of the SFCC Foundation. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to provide our ‘cheflings’ the opportunity to study abroad and learn from world-class chefs.”
During the trip, students studied Mediterranean and traditional Italian cooking at prestigious culinary schools. The excursion also included Italian language classes.
Creativity.Culture.Cocktails. A Benefit for the Arts at SFCC
Lawrence Fodor and partner John Rochester (below left) partnered with the SFCC Foundation to host a fundraising reception at their home July 18. The patio and gardens provided a beautiful background for guests gathered to support the college’s Red Dot Gallery and its film programs. Below right, Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales (foreground) and SFCC President Randy Grissom spoke to the assembled guests about the college’s recent growth and development, emphasizing opportunities for students in the creative arts.
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PROGRAM PROFILE Welding to help equip the welding lab with an eye on recruiting future graduates.
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parks fly and the whirring sound of grinding metal fills the welding lab. The nine students clad in protective gear and helmets weren’t just warm from welding, they were, as student Jason Amall explains, “sweating out completing their final projects” for their last week of lab classes. They will finish other classroom work such as Basic Blueprint Reading this fall, with an eye toward getting a Certificate in Master Welding by December. They also have the opportunity to pursue an Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technologies with further study. Welding Program Director Chris Felix sees a bright future for the students receiving a Certificate in Master Welding, since there is a growing demand for skilled welders. In fact, Amall recently began working at Los Alamos National Labs through the Undergraduate Student Program, and will continue his studies at night. He will work with the lab until May, and hopes it leads to permanent employment there. Aware of the increasing demand for welders in the coming years, Los Alamos National Security, LLC, became a primary supporter of the college program, and Caterpillar Santa Fe provided funds
Amall recognized the need to get the most up-to-date skills available. The 32-year-old graduated from Capital High in 2001 and spent about 12 years in California Jason Amall where he worked welding custom fabrication on trucks, such as attaching rollbars. “I returned to New Mexico to help my father, whose health was failing. I decided I wanted to stay, and realized I needed more training to get a good job,” he said. “I’ve always loved working with my hands,” Amall explains. “At SFCC, I’ve learned more about the various types of welding and had the chance to learn about TIG welding (Tungsten Inert or Gas Tungsten Arc welding) in depth. I love it.” He’s not the only one who envisions a bright future in welding. Veteran Stephen True, 48, said, “I was tired of working construction with no hope of a raise, so I decided to learn about welding. I got help from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Welding is great. I’ve always been good with my hands, so this is right up my alley,” he says.
FACULTY PROFILE Amanda Hatherly
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manda Hatherly wears many hats (sometimes even a hard hat) as the director of the Center of Excellence for Green Building and Energy Efficiency and the New Mexico Energy Smart Academy. Like other faculty members, her life often extends far beyond the campus. She’s not only recognized within the state as a leader in the fields of energy efficiency, healthy homes and green building training, she is well known on the national level. On campus at the New Mexico Energy Smart Academy, Hatherly directs IREC (Interstate Renewable Energy Council) accredited weatherization/energyefficiency and commercial trainings. “We’ve trained people who work in the state’s Building Services Division and others maintaining large commercial facilities,” Hatherly explains. SFCC trainers go to commercial sites around 4
the state, and have assisted the Navajo Indian Health Services in Window Rock and with commercial training in Phoenix. Coordinating the program that serves hundreds of people every year involves overseeing many contracts and training schedules. “The college is the only center in this part of the country that is IRECaccredited for all four programs, so we’re busy all the time,” she says with a hint
of her New Zealand accent. In addition to the work with energy efficiency, the New Mexico Energy Smart Academy is a training partner of the National Center for Healthy Housing. Hatherly coordinates those efforts and serves on the national curriculum committee. Hatherly’s days and nights are filled. She may lead a healthy homes workshop at one of the pueblos, problem solve in a Mayor’s Climate Action Energy Efficiency Task Force working group, or, at the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, lead a workshop at a national energy-efficiency conference. She’s a highly sought speaker and consultant, on regional and national levels. For example, in coordination with the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, Hatherly led a multistate collaboration to create a photo-illustrated field guide for energy efficiency. “About
Eric Eiskart, 20, notes, “From the very beginning welding ‘sparked’ my interest. I’m proud of the program at the college and have learned so much from my instructor.” He adds that while he’s not made a definite plan he has been thinking of going into the Coast Guard to learn about underwater welding. Welders have a lot of well-paid career options: pipefitting, engine parts, lab work, motorsports, construction, heavy equipment repair, manufacturing, military needs, plant work and pipelines, among others. Felix, who teaches the lab classes, has 40 years of experience in all types of welding, including welding pipe to supply water to snowmaking machines at the Santa Fe and Sandia ski areas.
EMPOWERING THE FUTURE: ENGAGING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN ENERGY WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES President Randy Grissom, right, hosted a campus roundtable discussion with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, left, in July. Topics centered on training and workforce development opportunities.
SFCC offers classes in five types of welding: Oxy Acetlyn Welding & Cutting, Shielded Metallic Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Gas Metalic and Flux-Cored welding and Pipe Fabrication; several are also available at the advanced level. “I’m having a great time teaching here. It’s not an easy program, and I push them to do everything correctly,” emphasized Felix. “I want to know that when the students finish here that they can do a job safely and with the highest of standards. I want them to be able to pass the professional certification tests when they finish their coursework.” A new group of students will step into the lab this fall to begin the program, and welding is not limited to men. Felix encourages anyone interested in the program to contact him at 505-428-1206 or chris.felix@sfcc.edu. Read more at sfcc.edu/ programs/welding.
26 states are now using the guide we designed for their own work, and they’ve been approved by the DOE. So I’m often asked by the DOE to speak about the initiative,” she says. In addition, Hatherly was part of a Santa Fe group that developed a water-efficiency rating score for builders that’s being piloted in 10 states. “Our group won the Sustainable Santa Fe Award this year. With the drought in California there’s been tremendous interest in this project,” she noted. Hatherly’s talents don’t stop there. She is the principal investigator for a National Science Foundation grant, where she is working to develop and disseminate innovative simulation games for students to learn building science concepts. The games will be used in energy efficiency curricula around the country. “This summer we had a workshop with 10 community college instructors who worked with the games for two days. This fall, they’ll be piloting it with their students,” she says. “About 40 instructors around the country also will be involved with Beta testing the games. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” If all these projects weren’t enough to keep her busy, Hatherly just finished a Master of Science in Educational Technology online through Boise State University. 5
NOTEWORTHY Executive Director for the Higher Education Center and Academic Partnerships Rebecca EstradaAnderson has been appointed to the Santa Fe City Council Transit Advisory Board. The Santa Fe University of Art & Design is offering reduced tuition for SFCC graduates in arts and arts-related programs. Tuition for SFCC graduates is lowered more than 60 percent in most cases, making it easier for local students to stay in Santa Fe to complete a bachelor’s degree. The offer is available for this fall semester.
Class of 2015 Commencement About 300 graduates took part in commencement ceremonies on May 16 at the Santa Fe Indian School Pueblo Pavilion. In all, 756 graduates earned more than 800 degrees and certificates this year. This year is the first that students received Associate in Fine Arts in Ceramics, Associate in Applied Science in Paramedicine and Sustainable Technologies-Water Treatment Operation degrees.
SFCC and Eastern New Mexico University have collaborated to offer SFCC Teacher Academy graduates six graduate-level credit hours tuition-free. These “bridge” courses allow SFCC students to more quickly earn a master’s degree at ENMU. The Teacher Academy is an alternative licensure program for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree, or more, and would like to become a teacher. While many of the classes are offered on campus, the appeal is that students can take all courses online.
Back to Work 50+ Northern New Mexican women age 50+ looking to get back on their feet in the workforce can get help to meet that goal at SFCC. With support from AARP Foundation’s BACK TO WORK 50+: Women’s Economic Stability Initiative under a grant provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, SFCC provides access to scholarships, job coaching, academic training, career retooling, and more, so they can land a good job – all free. Register at 855-850-2525. Veterans Resource Center Specialist and SFCC Class of 2015 Greg Scargall was selected to serve on the Mayor’s Veterans’ Advisory Board. He’s continuing his studies at the Higher Education Center. Catch the SFCC Street Food Institute Food Truck at the SFCC and Santa Fe Higher Education Center campuses, Santa Fe Brewing and other locations. Follow the truck on Facebook to know where to catch fresh, affordable food prepared by Culinary Arts students. With thanks to the Simon Foundation. 6
Interim Director of Teacher Education Dawn Wink’s “Wild Waters: Landscapes of Language” was published in the journal Langscape. Student Marlana Bolger was awarded the SFCC Foundation Richard Bradford Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship. Named for the author of the 1968 classic “Red Sky at Morning,” arts advocate Charmay Allred, author Michael McGarrity and former city councilwoman Rebecca Wurzburger initiated the scholarship. The Santa Fe Chapter of the Awesome Foundation presented a $1,000 micro-grant to Executive Assistant to the Governing Board Donna Wells to support the production of her new documentary, the “Horse Shelter Diaries.” Director of Adult Education Letty Naranjo received the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association Award of Excellence, which honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of adult education at the state or local level. Naranjo is the first employee at the college to reach 30 years of service.
KUDOS Clockwise from right: Congressman Ben Ray Luján was the keynote speaker; a graduate celebrating with a selfie; Student Government Association President William Torres Longo, with Biofuels Center of Excellence Assistant Director Luke Spangenburg and Renewable Energy Programs Coordinator Xubi Wilson; President Randy Grissom awarded the degrees to some very happy graduates. Opposite: Graduates along with their families and friends fill the Peublo Pavillion.
Cindy Nava, a former dual-credit student at SFCC in 2008, was featured in the Washington Post story “Undocumented immigrant among fellows working for DNC.” She became involved in Democratic politics and Nava bridged her advocacy work on immigration to her growing passion for lawmaking. Democratic National Chair Rep. Debbie Wassserman Schultz (D-Fla) said, “We’re extremely proud to have Cindy on our team at the DNC. Her story is an New Mexico inspiration for all of us about Women in Film presented what immigrant you can the 2015 Sage Award to Film achieve despite their Program Head Monique Anair, undocumented status.” recognizing her “for her dedication to the ‘greater feminine’ and for her active support of girls and women in the New Mexico Film and TV Industry.”
Continuing Education Instructor Jon Mortizugu was featured in The New York Times in the story, “The Films of Jon Mortizugu, Upending Stereotypes with a Wig and a Sneer.“
HEC Open House Several hundred prospective students, their families and community members came to the HEC Open House for tours and to learn about academic programs and meet our academic partners. The event was well organized and highlighted the beauty of the facility, which recently was awarded LEED Gold for its green building features. The Santa Fe Small Business Development Corporation welcomed visitors as well, and reports that the new location at the HEC has been well received among local businesses. Visit us at 1950 Siringo Rd. (across from Santa Fe High School) or www.hec.sfcc.edu. 7
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Published by Santa Fe Community College President and Governing Board Randy W. Grissom President Dr. Martha G. Romero Chair Kathleen Keith Vice Chair Pablo Sedillo Secretary Linda Siegle Member Jack Sullivan Member Willie Torres Longo Ex-officio Student Member Produced by SFCC’s Marketing and Public Relations Department.
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