St. Thomas University: Institute News & Events

Short Films Produced by St. Thomas University Communication Students are Featured in the Miami International Film Festival,
the MIFF Festival Stage and Wynwood Art Walls Screenings

Two short films produced and directed by Javier Palacios and Christopher Falite, students from the Institute for Communication, Entertainment and Media of St. Thomas University, have been selected to participate in CinemaSlam 2012, a school competition of the Miami International Film Festival Florida Focus program. The students produced the short films WiseGuy (2011) and A University Horror Story (2011) at the Advanced Television Production course taught by Dr. Marcela Moyano.

MIFF Festival Stage and the Wynwood Art Walls Screenings have also selected A University Horror Story (2011) to be screened on Lincoln Road and at the Wynwood Art District. This event showcases the best shorts produced throughout the year. “We feel that A University Horror Story (2011) would be a great addition to the festival,” said Alex Van Mecl, Filmmaker Services Liaison. The screening date in the two locations will be announced soon.

Chris Falite grew up in northeast Massachusetts. He enrolled in the B.A. in Communication Arts program with aspirations to work as a broadcast journalist. However, as he grew in both age and knowledge, he discovered that his true passion lied in the art of film. Falite has written and directed three short films as well as a mini TV series. “I hope to attend film school to sharpen my skill-set on my way to the main goal, the big screen,” Falite adds.

Javier Palacios was born and raised in Hialeah, FL. He first attended St. Thomas University as a LEAD NOW student and later enrolled in the Communication Arts program. “To me, a well done film is the ultimate "painting" and/or work of art that captures the world in which we live in,” said Palacios. He also aspires to be a producer/director/screenwriter in the film industry.

The aim of the CinemaSlam 2012 competition is to celebrate the work of undergraduate and graduate students from South Florida participating schools including University of Miami, Florida International University, Miami International University of Art and Design, Miami-Dade College and St. Thomas University. CinemaSlam 2012 winners will be announced and screened on March 4th at 2:00 p.m. at the Tower Theatre as part of the 29th Miami International Film Festival.

“The goal of producing media content in an academic setting is to assure its wide distribution through various platforms and to expose the work of students to the world. Film festivals are a brilliant window for students’ art work to be appreciated and critiqued by diverse audiences,” said Dr. Moyano. For more information, please contact Dr. Moyano at mmoyano@stu.edu.

Click here vote for Wise Guy and A University Horror Story

Writers of the Blog Highway to a Husband Share their Expertise with Communication Students

Recognized television anchors and producers of the blog Highway to a Husband joined Dr. Marcela Moyano’s New Media and Blog Design class on October 26 to share their experiences as bloggers.

In January 2010, Julia Yarbough, former anchor of NBC6, and Silva Harapetian, anchor of CBS Miami 4, embarked on a Journey to find Julia’s “Mr. Right “on a road trip across the Unites States and started writing about her experiences on her blog Highway to a Husband. Julia and Silva gave themselves a chance to an unconventional road trip, when they noticed that their lives were missing satisfaction in the daily rush to meet tasks and deadlines. In a quest to a more meaningful life, Julia and Silva have visited 26 states and Julia has blogged about her dating adventures.

Julia and Silva shared with Communication Arts students their learning through this process and the value of having created a blog to connect with audiences from across the globe. Silva told students that the key aspect of a blog was to “present something that appeals to the human condition” in order to attract readers despite the subject of the blog.

“You may not know the power of an idea and how it may unfold before you,” added Julia. She is now writing a book about her experiences on Highway to a Husband and her findings. She noted the importance of self-discovery and how a venture on finding the true self can lead to finally finding the “Mr. Right.”

Students of the New Media and Blog Design class have started their own blogs and are now blogging twice a week. Some of the blogs include Gourmet Squatters by Dinkinish O’Connor, Photo Memia by Emilia Vuorela, Changes in Latitudes by Juli Donlen and Re-Birth of an Enlightenment Era by Steeve Simbert. They are learning about the power of new media and some strategies to optimize their blogs, maximize views, and monetize them.

The Highway to a Husband project http://blog.highwaytoahusband.com/ is now looking for interns to manage social media sites and work on promotional events. For additional information, please contact Dr. Marcela Moyano, Assistant Professor of the Institute for Communication, Entertainment and Media, at mmoyano@stu.edu.

ICEM Faculty and Students Presented their Research at the 81st
Annual Convention of the Florida Communication Association

Students and faculty from the Institute for Communication, Entertainment and Media (ICEM) presented their academic research at the 81st Annual Convention of the Florida Communication Association that took place from October 13 to October 15 at the Four Points Sheraton Orlando Studio City.

The graduate students, Mercedes Lardizabal and Ananda De Mello, presented their research developed while taking courses in the Master of Arts in Communication Arts with the specialization in Art Management. Lardizabal entitled her paper The Search for the Filipino American Identity: Exploring the work of Filipino American Artists written in theMulticultural Communication Theory course taught by Dr. Rafael Montes. De Mello presented the paper Ethically Communicating through Space and Self: Installation and Performance Art written for the Media Ethics course and taught by Dr. Marcela Moyano.

Rodolfo Castellon represented the undergraduate students of the Communication Arts program of St. Thomas University at the conference. He presented his research on Ethics in Photo Manipulation also written during the Media Ethics class taught by Dr. Moyano.

ME TOO: All the Same
A revealing self portrait exhibition
Produced by St. Thomas University Graduate Students

Click here to RSVP
For more information contact:
305.628.6645 or mlardizabal@stu.edu

Artists will be showcasing self-portraits that reveal a side of themselves that they seldom show to society. The concept behind this self-portrait is that in our day to day lives, as we interact with the rest of society, there is a side of ourselves that we suppress because we have been conditioned to think that this side of ourselves is somehow unacceptable or not mainstream. As humans, we have more in common than not, and this exhibition will help guests explore the connection of their hidden selves with the artists’ through these revealing self-portraits.

To enhance the guests’ experience, an interactive installation consisting of a video booth will allow the guest to enter and pose or perform exposing side of themselves they seldom show. This video will be projected during the entire exhibition, forming an installation of video self-portraits. In this way, the guest themselves become artists and connect with other guests and the exhibiting artists.

St. Thomas University Expands Art Management Curriculum
to Miami's Creative District

The South Florida arts scene, from trendy SoBe to Calle Ocho and Wynwood, continues to showcase Miami Dade County as a growing culturally oriented metropolis. And Miami’s St. Thomas University has been steadily increasing its arts curriculum to offer an alternative to visual arts degrees and help emerging art entrepreneurs and non-profit managers to learn the business of art.

Dr. Gloria Ruiz, Director of the University’s Institute for Communications, Entertainment and Media (ICEM) housed in the School of Leadership Studies, recently announced expanded venues, bringing its graduate-level Arts Management degree to the Wynwood Arts District. Selected classes will take place at the Miami World Cinema Center in Wynwood beginning August 2011 with a course on Events Management taught by Dr. Susan Angulo, St. Thomas University Associate Provost and founder of the Miami Latin Film Festival, and Alina Philipp, Program Associate at St. Thomas University. Evening and weekend classes are designed for working professionals. Gallery owners, museum administrators and managers and arts non-profit organizations can still apply for the fall term by calling 305 – 628-6645 or via email, mclarke@stu.edu.

St. Thomas University is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2011 and will soon unveil a series of events and programs that will honor distinguished trustees, alumni, faculty and other members of the St. Thomas community. University President Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale has increasingly led an active role in the global fight against human trafficking, having recently arrived from an international symposium on this struggle held in Colombia July 2011. The President recently announced the Co-chairs for this year’s anniversary gala events: St. Thomas Trustee Frances Sevilla-Sacasa and community business leader Maria Elena Villamil of the Washington Economics Group.

STU Sculpture Garden Grows

Thursday, May 12, the STU Institute of Communication, Entertainment and Media gathered faculty, friends and students to formally unveil the new addition to our campus entrance Sculpture Garden. A monumental sculpture by John Angee – “Passages” – was admired by the St. Thomas community with mostly everyone wanting to have their picture taken with the artist and our President. Special thanks to Alina Philip, Dr. Gloria Ruiz, Dr. Pedro Figueredo and Dr. Susan Angulo for the well planned event, lunch and refreshments.

More images from the Sculpture Garden Inauguration

Check out the "Passages" Documentary

Blooming Hope: winner of the 2010 Miami International Festival’s
Florida Focus Student College Social Short Film Competition

The documentary chronicles the lives and work of Elicoeur Beabrum, a coffee farmer from the town of Ma Wouj and member of the COCANO fair-trade coffee cooperative; Tata Dumasie, a craftswoman from the Atelier Thevenet fair-trade artisan initiative in Jean Rabel; and 300 schoolchildren from the remote seashore village of Baie-de-Henne who benefit from a sustainable solar oven project.

“The film captured the spirit of the Haitian people and takes viewers to Haiti’s stunning mountains, ocean and scenery while contributing to fundraising efforts for our impoverished neighbors” said Monsignor Franklyn Casale, President of St. Thomas University.

Blooming Hope was premiered on April 24th, 2010 at the Little Haiti Cultural Center and St. Thomas University’s faculty, students, and community members were present to celebrate the work and commitment of all those involved in the production of the film and the projects in Haiti.

The documentary was made possible through the efforts and talents of Marcela Moyano-Rosero and Fernando Rosero - film producers, Raul Rosero Polo - musical director, Evelyne Baille, Fresnel Larosiliere, Aura Perez and Juan Raul Rosero - musical interpreters, and Anthony P. Vinciguerra - director of the Center for Justice and Peace of St. Thomas University.

The COCANO coffee is available for purchase at the St. Thomas University’s bookstore. For more information on Blooming Hope, please contact mmoyano@stu.edu.

Questions or comments please contact:
Dr. Gloria P. Ruiz, Director, gruiz@stu.edu 305.628 6508
Administrative Offices: mclarke@stu.edu or 305.628.6645