Cinema school embraces new mobile technology

Web sites such as youtube and new technolgies like video ipods and iphones will be used to show student's short films.

By Victor Farfan
Celluloid and Sound

The iPhone is one of the new technologies redefining film.
TV and film can now be watched with mobile technolgy. They are the next step, says Professor Chindamo.

In the wake of the growing successes of both video-sharing Web sites, such as YouTube, and mobile technologies, such as camera phones and video iPods, the USC School of Cinematic Arts has created a class that would use these new technologies to make Internet short films and "mobisodes," one-to-three-minute episodes for mobile devices.

The proposal for the class, titled "Mobile and Internet Viral Screenwriting and Production," was spearheaded by adjunct professor Frank Chindamo. As founder and CEO of Fun Little Movies, a company that specializes in short films for mobile channels of entertainment, his experience extends far past the classroom.

Mobile media signals the next step in the evolution of how entertainment is disseminated to audiences, Chindamo said.

The addition of this class to the Cinematic Arts curriculum represents the school's "leaping into the 21st century of entertainment."

"Mobile and Internet video is the future," Chindamo said.

"I think it's going to be one of the big things of the future … since attention spans are getting shorter and shorter," said Michael Rousselet, a junior majoring in writing for screen and television.

People can easily look at their phones and watch mobisodes while they're waiting for something, Rousselet said.

One of the unique features of the class is students will have created a short film or an episode by the end of the semester. The course will consist of coming up with an idea, writing the screenplay, editing and eventually posting the results for their peers to watch.

"Not only is it something good to have for your reel, but it shows that you have experience in a new technology that will grow," Rousselet said.

The exposure that it grants beginning filmmakers is unparalleled, Rousselet said, referencing his friend whose short mock trailer on YouTube received 1 million hits in one week.

The advantage of making short, concise films is that filmmakers are allowed to "try many new and different techniques and styles," since they are made in a short amount of time and with a small budget, Chindamo said.

Another benefit of working with this relatively new medium is that it's not like the film and TV industry, in which the rules are already set and filmmakers have to bend to the whims of large studios. Instead, "this is where a brand-new system is created, and we can help shape it," Chindamo said.

Chindamo said he believes the current quality of films and programs on these video-sharing Web sites are not up to par.

He said while there have been some popular successes, nothing spectacular has come of it.

"YouTube is like the ghetto of filmmaking. Most of the stuff on there would get a 'D minus' at USC," he said.

Chindamo said he wants USC students to raise the standards for these videos.

"There has not yet been a hit (show), and I want USC students to make that hit," he said. "The world has yet to see what USC can do."