Mayor de Blasio Joins City University of New York For The Opening Of The Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema
New York – Mayor Bill de Blasio joined City University of New York Chancellor James Miliken, Media and Entertainment Commissioner Cynthia Lopez, Barry R. Feirstein, and other elected officials to open doors for the Booklyn College Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema today. The Feirstein School is located at the Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and is the only school in the nation to house a working tim lot. Mayor de Blasio welcomed 69 students in an inaugural this fall to recognize public graduates in the nation as the first graduate school of cinema in New York City.
Mayor Bill de Blasio stated, “New York City has long been a global capital for film and television production, but today we are making an unprecedented commitment in the future of this industry and in New York’s finest young filmmakers.” “By opening the Feirstein School, we are unlocking the door of opportunity for a talented and diverse group of students who want to get the best, most cutting-edge education in cinema, and then put those skills to use right here in New York City. I think former Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his extraordinary vision on this reject and to the generous private funders who helped to make this first-of-its-kind school not only top-notch but highly affordable for a group of aspiring filmmakers who reflect the multicultural creativity of our city.”
The Feirstein School was designed to provide affordable access to career opportunities for cinema and applications are accepted on a rolling basis to assist with soundstage, movies, and TV productions. By creating a pipeline to diverse talent within the local film industry emerging voices can be heard in the five boroughs of New York City. In 2012, this project announced funding through public-private partnership model and reflects the City’s commitment to grow robust NYC film and television specializations. According to the reports, the City of New York has invested a total of $8 million dollars to support the creation of the Feirstein School and numerous scholarships so that more New Yorkers have the opportunity to pursue careers in film and television production. In exchange for College commitment at the Feirstein School after the acceptance, the tuition cost for attending the school is approximately $59,000 over three years. Under the de Blasio administration, the reports reveal an increase in enrollment by 20 percent over the initial investments, and overall contributions from the City includes $4.7 million for construction costs, $2 million for scholarships, $1 million for curriculum and programming, and $5000,000 for creative grants and marketing.
Although the Cynthia Lopez, Media and Entertainment Commissioner has worked closely with Brooklyn College in various aspects of the school’s development, the school is a result of extensive public-private partnership that includes Brooklyn College Foundation. Commissioner Cynthia Lopez, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment stated, “The City of New York is committed to creating more opportunities for New Yorkers to access careers in our thriving production industry, which is why we’re supporting the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema.” “The Feirstein School will provide its students with an industry-driven – and affordable – education, and the scholarships we’ve established will mean New Yorkers for diverse backgrounds will be able to develop their talents and participant in meaningful industry opportunities, given the productions located at Steiner Studios.”