MFA Program Takes a New Direction

The Brooklyn College Television and Radio Department continues to offer a Master in Fine Arts program on a yearly basis. The fall semester of 2009 has accepted our new sequence of students into the two-year MFA program. The Department of Television and Radio at Brooklyn College mainly offers its courses throughout the evening to accommodate students who also hold full time professions. 

This year the Department has accepted Sequence 39. This Sequence features an exceptional profile of diverse students that range from all across the world. This Sequence of students has enrolled from as far as Brazil and Trinidad and as close as local parts of Brooklyn. Each student brings with them a diverse creative vision, truly making the classroom an international environment. The Television and Radio Department also have students who’ve worked as Directors & Producers in the industry and returned to take advantage of Brooklyn College’s advanced technological class/workspaces.  Sequence 39 also features students making full career turns, coming from Chemistry and Economics backgrounds. The Television and Radio Department welcomes its graduate candidates and offers each graduate student easy access to mentors and administrative assistance.  There is also a great opportunity for some students to work within the department and the TV Center, which offers some aid toward their financial needs.

Brooklyn College Television and Radio Department goes HD

As the world of television technology changes at a rapid speed, the Television and Radio Department is taking initial steps to equip the students with the necessary tools getting them ready for a highly competitive job market. In the state-of-the-art editing suite, fifteen new workstations were upgraded and now includes the new Apple Mac Pro computers with Quad Core Intel Xeon. Each computer also features the latest editing software from Apple together with the latest version of Final Cut Pro as well as graphic programs such as Adobe Creative Suite 3. Now both undergraduate students as well as graduate students are able to creatively engineer their projects at blazing speed with tools that allow their creativity to soar. 

In addition to the latest upgrade, two fully equipped HD stations were recently added for those students who wish to take full advantage of editing in High Definition. Investments were made by the Television Center for new professional quality HD camcorders for students to create their projects in HD. The Television Center has a Sony HVR-V1U HDV Camcorder as well as a JVC GY-HD110U HDV/DV ProHD Camcorder in their distribution area for students to utilize when producing their projects. 

In the near future the Television and Radio Department is looking forward to a renovation of their current professional television studio. Plans are underway to revamp the studio so that the students can produce studio quality programs in full High Definition. The department is hopeful that this change will occur within next two years. More Pictures >>

Globecaster, the Traveling Television Studio.

As Sequence 37 embarks on their second and final year, many of them are taking full advantage of the equipment that the Television and Radio Department can provide. One such piece of equipment is the "Globecaster.. The Globecaster 8000 is a cutting edge system made by Global Streams that is used for remote multiple camera live shoots. The students have been able to utilize this distinct tool to enhance their own projects as well as giving them a unique opportunity for hands-on-training. 

The computer-based system combines an eight-input production switcher and audio mixer with character generator, effects and compositing capability, as well as integrated linear and non-linear editing tools. The new system simplifies the logistics of live-switched remote production, since it greatly reduces the amount of equipment needed to transport to the remote location. It has already been put through its paces shooting campus sporting events, a live-switched drama being shot in the field, and a music performance on campus.  Master of Fine Arts students are generally the operators of the Globecaster and it has proven to be an invaluable part of the technological side of the curriculum.  Some examples of the programs that utilized the technological capability of Globecaster were:  a production of The Jazz Trio by Jonathan Park, Yiddish Theater by Wendy Goodman, and Brooklyn College basketball by Sequence 37. The Television and Radio Department encourages students to take full advantage of the resources available to them in the TV Center.

 Happy 30th Anniversary Dr. George Rodman (May 2008)

Many people know Dr. George Rodman for his warm amiable personality, some know him as the Chairperson of the Department of Television and Radio, and still others know him as a great teacher. In what ever capacity one may know Dr. Rodman, one thing is for sure he leaves an indelible impression. On May 7, 2008, Dr. Rodman celebrated his 30th Anniversary at Brooklyn College in the Department of Television and Radio. The event featured sumptuous food and emotional remembrances from faculty members; alumni; staff; administrators; students; and family members. The evening featured tribute video to commemorate the brilliant career of Dr. Rodman and can be seen on You-Tube for those interested.

George Rodman has taught at the college level since he was twenty-one years of age. He founded the television-writing program in Television and Radio at Brooklyn College, which now offers advanced classes in Comedy, Drama, and Documentary Writing. He serves as the faculty advisor to The Excelsior, one of a pair of competing campus newspapers that was named third in the nation by the 2005 Princeton Review of America's Best Colleges. He has written for newspapers, magazines, journals, film, television, radio, and multimedia programs. He has been listed in Who's Who in Entertainment and Who's Who in Education.

The Television and Radio Department is sincerely grateful to Dr. Rodman for thirty years of leadership, guidance, humor, and academic excellence.  He has been an exemplary role model and a true advocate for students in both the undergraduate and graduate areas. See Prof. Rodman's tribute video here.