WIA provides $110K film school grant

The CNMI Workforce Investment Agency essentially saved the Northern Marianas College film school program when it made available a $110,000 grant for the scholarship of 60 film students beginning this summer.

Film school proponents earlier feared that the college would terminate the program for lack of funding.

In a recent board meeting, the NMC board said that its earlier decision to create the film school as a separate department within NMC was dependent on the availability of funds. So far, the board said that no funding is available for that purpose.

Last week, the board said the program’s survival would depend on whether the NMC leadership, headed by acting president Tony Deleon Guerrero, could find money to sustain the program.

“It’s up to the president to look for funding. The administration understands the board’s position that its implementation is premised on the availability of funds,” said board chairperson Kimberlyn King-Hinds.

For his part, Deleon Guerrero said that the program is expected to be self-sufficient.

He said that right now, the program is getting funding through its projects, including its partnership with WIA.

Meantime, film school department acting director Butch Wolf said the WIA program covers summer and fall 2004 `nd spring 2005.

He said that 60 students are currently enrolled with the film class, which began last Monday.

Under the program, students will not only get free tuition but also compensation while attending the class.

WIA will reportedly pay the students up to 40 hours a week.

Wolf also said his program has a pending three-year grant from the Humanities Council.

When asked, Wolf said that his department actually holds “nothing but good faith” from people.

The lack of funding has also left Wolf’s professional contract with NMC hanging in the balance. His pending contract renewal has also stalled certain projects and grants, including a documentary on the 60th anniversary og tie*Battles of Saipan and Tinian.

A member of the 60th anniversary committee earlier told the NMC board that it could not start on the oral history project, unless Wolf’s status with the college is cleared.

Deleon Guerrero said that Wolf’s professional services contract with the college will be renewed soon.