High school students tour new film school • Oscar-nominated director Michael Paxton to teach at Pacific Rim Academy
More than 100 high school students had an opportunity to view the newest trade school on island, Pacific Rim Academy, at NMC’s Building V.
Students met with Oscar nominee director Michael Paxton who described to them the types of things they would learn during Pacific Rim Academy’s Film and Audio/Video Production Certificate Program. His specific course on Directing will include topics such as how to deal with actors, how to envision what you want to see, how to turn your vision into a reality on film, and much more. Mr. Paxton has a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from New York University, his film credits include the Oscar-nominated documentary “Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life”.
Mr. Paxton’s course on Directing represents just one of many courses that are offered through Pacific Rim Academy’s Film and Audio/Video Certificate Program. Other guest instructors scheduled for engagements at the school later this year include four-time Academy Award nominee, sound editor Alan Murray; British Academy Award winner, re-recording mixer Michael Minkler; and Oscar winner, sound FX editor, David M. Horton, just to name a few.
Students who enroll in Pacific Rim Academy’s two-year program will have an opportunity to learn three primary areas of film-making: Pre-production, which includes script-writing, casting, set design and location scouting; Production, which includes producing, directing, working with actors, location and stage shooting, and camera work; and Post-production, which includes sound editing, sound mixing, special effects, automatic dialogue replacement, foley, among other things. Second year students will have opportunities to work as interns on real film projects.
Residents of the CNMI may qualify for EAP or Pell grant assistance. If you are interested in this program or would like more information, please contact Mike Black or Les Wolf at 235-2577, or visit the office at Northern Marianas College, Building V.