Donation protected
At the age of 36 I decided to take a big step. I applied to study environmental filmmaking at American University in Washington, D.C..
I was accepted to the 2017 MA for Film and Media Arts.
I was raised in a storytelling family, with journalist parents. I passionately participated in theatre and short film productions throughout my life. But, the stories closest to my heart were about how best to care for our environment. I couldn’t miss an episode of Captain Planet as a kid. I wanted to be a planeteer, I longed to be a planeteer! Then, some 20 years later I came across the following quote from the Baha'i community about the relationship between humanity and its environment. It stated:
"We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions."
Then, a year ago decided that my passion for gardening and conversations on environmental stewardship weren't enough. I wanted to do more, and again, I felt that desire to be a planeteer, to take to the 'streets' and to fight harder than ever for Justice. Time and time again I have seen how great transformation in society and culture shifts take place when individuals with deep desires to change the human condition contribute all they have, all of their powers, for the betterment of the world.
While all areas of human endeavor need advancing, I have chosen, because of this longing in my heart, to take my natural skill for storytelling and dive into the ocean of filmmaking.
In a 2014 study by Martha M. Lauzen, Ph.D. of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University revealed that for all films made in 2014 85% had no female directors, 80% had no female writers, 57% had no female executive producers, 33% had no female producers, 78% had no female editors, and 92% had no female cinematographers.
In keeping with the lack of visibility and actual representation of women in the film and television industry mentioned above, currently there is very little scholarship or grant money, outside of what I have been awarded by the university, for women in film, let alone media.
I am so grateful to have received a merit award for ¾ of tuition for the first Fall/Spring semesters. However, this is where I need your help. Prior to starting the Fall 2017 semester, all MA/MFA cohort will participate in a boot camp meant to prepare and bond the students. The merit award does not cover this boot camp! Noting the extreme lack of female voice in film and television and noting that student loans place a heavy burden on those in the arts, I make plea for your support of my education.
The cost of the boot camp is $9,474, plus a $250 fee, bringing the total cost of the boot camp to $9,724.
Any amount of contribution toward the total cost of the summer course (the boot camp) is most greatly appreciated. Please help me to make this big step on my way to working in my dream profession--filmmaking!
Yours,
amelia.
I was accepted to the 2017 MA for Film and Media Arts.
I was raised in a storytelling family, with journalist parents. I passionately participated in theatre and short film productions throughout my life. But, the stories closest to my heart were about how best to care for our environment. I couldn’t miss an episode of Captain Planet as a kid. I wanted to be a planeteer, I longed to be a planeteer! Then, some 20 years later I came across the following quote from the Baha'i community about the relationship between humanity and its environment. It stated:
"We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions."
Then, a year ago decided that my passion for gardening and conversations on environmental stewardship weren't enough. I wanted to do more, and again, I felt that desire to be a planeteer, to take to the 'streets' and to fight harder than ever for Justice. Time and time again I have seen how great transformation in society and culture shifts take place when individuals with deep desires to change the human condition contribute all they have, all of their powers, for the betterment of the world.
While all areas of human endeavor need advancing, I have chosen, because of this longing in my heart, to take my natural skill for storytelling and dive into the ocean of filmmaking.
In a 2014 study by Martha M. Lauzen, Ph.D. of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University revealed that for all films made in 2014 85% had no female directors, 80% had no female writers, 57% had no female executive producers, 33% had no female producers, 78% had no female editors, and 92% had no female cinematographers.
In keeping with the lack of visibility and actual representation of women in the film and television industry mentioned above, currently there is very little scholarship or grant money, outside of what I have been awarded by the university, for women in film, let alone media.
I am so grateful to have received a merit award for ¾ of tuition for the first Fall/Spring semesters. However, this is where I need your help. Prior to starting the Fall 2017 semester, all MA/MFA cohort will participate in a boot camp meant to prepare and bond the students. The merit award does not cover this boot camp! Noting the extreme lack of female voice in film and television and noting that student loans place a heavy burden on those in the arts, I make plea for your support of my education.
The cost of the boot camp is $9,474, plus a $250 fee, bringing the total cost of the boot camp to $9,724.
Any amount of contribution toward the total cost of the summer course (the boot camp) is most greatly appreciated. Please help me to make this big step on my way to working in my dream profession--filmmaking!
Yours,
amelia.
Organizer
Amelia Tyson
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC