CNA

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

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  • Basic Facts
  • Mission & Strategy
  • Degree Areas
  • Key Teaching Staff
  • Successful Graduates

Basic Facts

  • Year of Receiving CILECT Full Membership:

    2016

  • Agency (-ies) Who Awarded the State Accreditation:

    New York State, NASAD (National Association of Schools o

  • Name of Director (Rector, Dean, Head of School):

    Prof. Shanti Thakur

  • Address:

    70 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA

  • Country:

    United States

  • Website:

    https://www.rit.edu/artdesign/school-film-and-animation

  • Points of Contact

    CILECT Contact Person:
    School Director: Prof. Shanti Thakur
    Email:
    sktpph@rit.edu
    CILECT Contact Person:
    BFA Program Director, Production: Prof. Jack Beck
    Telephone:
    +1 585 475 27 61
    Email:
    jabpph@rit.edu
    CILECT Contact Person:
    MFA Program Director: Kevin Bauer
    Email:
    kmbpph@rit.edu
    CILECT Contact Person:
    BFA Program Director Animation: Assoc. Prof. Brian Larson
    Email:
    bjlppr@rit.edu
    CILECT Contact Person:
    BS Motion Picture Science Program Director: Assoc. Prof. Ricardo Figueroa
    Email:
    rrfppr@rit.edu
    CILECT Contact Person:
    Karen Henry
    Telephone:
    +1 585 475 61 75
    Email:
    kahppd@rit.edu

Mission & Strategy

The mission of SOFA is to advance the state of the cinematic arts by preparing graduates that independently produce innovative work, enter the industry with a creative specialty, and begin careers that significantly contribute to the research and development of new motion picture art or technologies. It is essential that the curriculum flexibly remain consistent with current and emerging technologies, production practice, theoretical concerns, and aesthetic evolution. Three distinct degree programs support the live action, animation, and motion picture science curriculum: BFA, MFA, and the BS in digital cinema.
SOFA students are encouraged to develop their own personal vision and independent work while they learn the skills needed to fulfill any role in our profession. SOFA’s curriculum, developed by our award-winning faculty, engaged students, and successful alumni, and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), is rooted in a shared passion for filmmaking.

Key Teaching Staff

Kevin Bauer

Field of Teaching: 2D, 3D animation

Don Casper

Field of Teaching: Production, post-production, colorist

Munjal Yagnik

Field of Teaching: film / digital production, post, cinematography

Jonathan Seligson

Field of Teaching: 3D animation

Ambarien Alqadar

Field of Teaching: film/video production, film history
Website Reference: https://cargocollective.com/ambarienalqadar/About-Ambarien-Alqadar
Major Achievements:

award winning independent filmmaker (fiction, documentary)

Jack Beck

Field of Teaching: film/video production, sound theory
Website Reference: https://www.aquilineproductions.com/
Major Achievements:

award winning independent filmmaker (fiction, documentary)

Adrianne Carageorge

Field of Teaching: film/video production, film history/theory
Website Reference: https://cias.rit.edu/faculty-staff/78
Major Achievements:

award winning independent filmmaker (fiction), political media producer, IMDB

Frank Deese

Field of Teaching: screenwriting
Website Reference: https://cias.rit.edu/faculty-staff/269
Major Achievements:

industry television writer; Amazing Stories, The Principal

Thomas Gasek

Field of Teaching: stop motion animation, acting for animation, business of animation
Website Reference: https://www.tdgasek.com/
Major Achievements:

Creature Comforts America, Coraline, Focal Press “Frame by Frame Stop Motion,” Fulbright Specialist Award

Brian Larson

Field of Teaching: 2D computer animation, hand drawn animation
Website Reference: https://www.brianjlarson.com/
Major Achievements:

commercial clients – Sony, Cartoon Network, Disney

David Long

Field of Teaching: motion picture science, color science
Website Reference: https://cias.rit.edu/schools/film-animation/undergraduate-motion-picture-science
Major Achievements:

Academy Award Science and Technology 2008, SMPTE Kodak Education Award

Stephanie Maxwell

Field of Teaching: experimental film/video, animation production
Website Reference: https://people.rit.edu/sampph/Bio.html
Major Achievements:

award winning independent filmmaker (experimental)

Atia Newman (Quadri)

Field of Teaching: 3D computer animation, rigging
Website Reference: https://www.theivytree.com/
Major Achievements:

first woman ever to work in the Pakistani animation industry

Cat Ashworth

Field of Teaching: film / video production, documentary film history
Website Reference: https:// catashworth.com
Major Achievements:

award winning documentary filmmaker, Iroquoise Creation Story (film),

Peter Murphy

Field of Teaching: 2D computer animation
Major Achievements:

commercial clients

David Sluberski

Field of Teaching: audio production, post-production
Website Reference: https://www.davesluberski.com/
Major Achievements:

commercial clients, PBS, NPR productions, Peabody Award 1994

Ricardo Figueroa

Field of Teaching: motion picture science, color science
Major Achievements:

US Patent 698253 Processing Film Images

Mari Jaye Blanchard

Field of Teaching: 2D computer animation, traditional hand drawn animation
Website Reference: https://www.marijayeblanchard.com
Major Achievements:

award winning independant filmmaker, commercial broadcast, created animations for Sesame Workshop, MTV, Comedy Central, New York Foundation for the Arts

Mark Reisch

Field of Teaching: 3D computer animation
Major Achievements:

part of first team to successfully convert live action footage to 3D IMAX

Successful Graduates

Brian Cantwell

Field of Studies: BFA Film Production
Major Achievements:

Digital Production Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic
IMDB – many film credits

Chris Edwards

Field of Studies: BFA Animation
Major Achievements:

CEO and Founder, The Third Floor, PreVis

Tom Connor

Field of Studies: BFA Film Production
Major Achievements:

VP Creative Marketing Disney-ABC

Greg Smith

Field of Studies: BFA Animation
Major Achievements:

CG/Technical Supervisor, Disney – Zootopia, Frozen

Ferris Webby

Field of Studies: MFA Animation
Major Achievements:

Blue Sky Studios, Character Technical Director, Ice Age, How to Train Your Dragon 2

Jim Denault

Field of Studies: BFA Photography/Film
Major Achievements:

¥ Director of Photography on over 20 features including: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, Trumbo, Pitch Perfect 2, Maria Full of Grace. Two primetime emmys including: Six Feet Under, Silicon Valley, and Getting On.

Tim Tuchrello

Field of Studies: BFA Film Production
Major Achievements:

Sound Editor on over 50 features including: LA Confidential, Zombieland, The Muppets, and Ride Along. 2 Primetime Emmys for TV.

John Traver

Field of Studies: BS Motion Picture Science
Major Achievements:

Founder of Frame.IO, a software company that has raised over $12 million capital this year.

Matt Donato

Field of Studies: BS Motion Picture Science
Major Achievements:

• Engineer, Netflix
• Contributor to SMPTE 2080 standard for HD mastering environments, research papers delivered at SMPTE 2015, published SMPTE Journal 2016.

Jaclyn Pytlarz

Field of Studies: BS Motion Picture Science
Major Achievements:

• Image Scientist, Dolby
• Contributor to ITU standards work on UHDTV, research papers delivered at HPA 2016 and NAB 2016, SMPTE, and IBC.

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