Wonderful how serendipitous life can be. Almost 20 years ago, shortly after I returned to Saint John’s, I agreed to meet with a couple seniors. They heard I had some knowledge of the film industry and needed an adult “sponsor” of a proposed film festival they wanted to host. I agreed. Later I learned that the invitational program was to be called “Film Bazaare.”
Sixteen film makers, from seven colleges/universities, and four states arrived on a late April Friday, just before commencement. My presence for the two-day festival was requested. The event included workshops by a well-known film-maker and a MTV video maker. I viewed film which challenged me. The awards—mostly gilded tree branches---were handmade by CSB/SJU students. A friendship was established and I have followed their lives and careers.
Alex Fisher and Heath Pochucha, class of 1999, went on to distinguished careers in film and marketing. Alex earned a Masters and Ph.D. in Film and Television from Bond University, Australia. As a doctoral student, he conducted research at the University of St. Andrew, Scotland. He recently joined the Cinematic Arts faculty at Multimedia University, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, as a Senior Lecturer.
Heath pursued a writing career and rose through the creative ranks at Minneapolis advertising agencies including Carmichael Lynch, and Fallon. His work has been recognized by top awards in the industry: Cannes, One Show, Webbys, Communication Arts, FWA, Effies, to name a few. He is currently a Group Creative Director at Deutsch Los Angeles
Back in their day, media services at Saint John’s had a small staff with limited equipment and service hours. For Alex and Heath, to produce a film for their festival, the media center was available between 1 and 4 a.m. Using resources available at the time, “two source players dumped onto a recorder unit; clunky, but cutting edge at the time.”
Today, most of our students matriculate here with an advanced knowledge of all-things electronic. Many even did 20 years ago. To meet this challenge, Brother Simon-Hoa Phan, OSB, joined the faculty in 2003 with a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He later earned a MFA from the California Institute of the Arts, Film and Video. He teaches: Video, Documentary Film Production, Animation, Design including 2D/4D, and a Senior Studio Thesis.
In 2003, Stephen Sommers ’80, a noted film-maker and director, provided major funds to establish the Sommers' Digital Video Studio, which expanded Brother Simon-Hoa’s ability to provide a variety of video and digital experiences.
Fast forward to fall 2017, when the renovated and expanded Alcuin Library and the new Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons come on line. The Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons will host a state-of-the-art Bill Kling Media Lab, Colman Barry Creativity Center and Dan Technology Training Room along with a new video studio and offices for CSB/SJU’s Media Services.
Alcuin Library’s main floor will include the creation of a Digital Media Commons, which will include an editing lab, studio, equipment check-out, collaboration space, consultation areas, and the (Father) Tom Thole Technology Center, which includes the Tse (electronic) Classroom. Students want spaces for collaboration, for working on group projects, and they want places where they can make things. From the start, our intention has been to have Alcuin be a technology-rich environment that provides the tools necessary for 21st century scholarship.
What Alex and Heath helped create, and many more before them and since, is an entire life cycle of knowledge creation.
An Alcuin and Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons fundraising goal of $15.6 million has been set; to date, $11.4 million has been raised. To make a gift toward the goal, or for any of the specific programs mentioned above, contact one of the development officers listed below.