About the Gotham EDU
The Gotham EDU is dedicated to championing and empowering young professionals as they face the challenges of transitioning from student to industry professional.The Gotham EDU provides an engaging and collaborative environment that expands the creative and professional horizons of our participants and partnered academic communities. By prioritizing mentorship, resources, and community, Gotham EDU seeks to provide more equitable access to the Film and Media Industry for the next generation of storytellers.
2023 Programs
The Film and Media Career Development Program
The Gotham EDU Film and Media Career Development program allows students from across the country to learn from industry professionals and provides the resources needed to make informed and strategic decisions as they complete their academic studies. During the 6-week virtual component of the program, students attend interactive discussions with industry leaders, develop creative concepts, and explore career opportunities. Students are exposed to a variety of career choices, gain a working knowledge of the film and media industry sectors, develop a creative concept, and engage with makers and industry leaders during Gotham Week 2023.
PROGRAM DATES
COHORT I: Monday, June 5, 2023 – Friday, July, 14, 2023
COHORT II: Monday, July 17, 2023 – Friday, August 18, 2023
WEEKLY PROGRAM TOPICS:
Each week, the program will explore a different type of media in the U.S. market moves from development to distribution and sales.
Week 1: Industry Orientation
Week 2: Fiction Film (indie budget)
Week 3: Fiction Film (large budget)
Week 4: Non-Fiction Film
Week 5: TV & Episodic
Week 6: Audio storytelling
WEEKLY PROGRAMATIC ELEMENTS:
Coffee Break Chats: A new prompt will be suggested for each week’s coffee break chat as a way to open up the students creatively and socially.
Peer-to-Peer Meetups: Students work together to hold each other accountable through the development process for their creative concepts by providing insightful feedback and support.
Industry Led-Conversations: Moderated sessions in which students gain a better understanding of the Industry professional’s career path, current role, and the future of the media sector/ecosystem in which the professional works.
Career and Creative Mentorship: One-on-one sessions with Gotham staff and mentors.
GOTHAM WEEK 2023:
All participants will be invited to attend Gotham Week 2023 taking place in Brooklyn in September. Students will have an all-access pass to Gotham Week’s Expo sessions and conference as well as screenings, networking events, and exclusive discounts on Meet-the-Decision Maker sessions.
TIME COMMITMENT:
We expect each student to dedicate approximately 5 – 10 hours per week between programming and concept development.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:
- Computer + Wi-Fi
- Access to Zoom
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
The Joel Schumacher | Sophia Cranshaw Scholarship: Five (5) undergraduate students who are members of Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities as well as those who identify as LGBTQ+.
Scholarship recipients are automatically enrolled in the MTV Entertainment Group’s Ambassador’s program; a semester-long, paid internship within MTV Entertainment Group.
The Questlove Scholarship: Five (5) undergraduate students are selected who are members of Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. This is a great opportunity for students who have a passion and interest in audio storytelling.
*Students can identify which scholarships they would like to be considered for on the application.
The Gotham EDU Executive Leadership Program
The Gotham’s Executive Leadership program is designed to provide undergraduate women of color an opportunity to deepen their institutional knowledge in order to advance their film executive careers in the areas of Communications + Marketing, Development, and Distribution. More information about this year’s program and participants can be found here.
The Focus Features | JetBlue Short Film Student Showcase
The Focus Features | JetBlue Short Film Student Showcase provides master’s program students an incredible opportunity to participate in the Short Film Showcase – a unique commercial entry point for short thesis films entering the industry.
The Gotham celebrated the five winning student films at the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards in November of 2023. Winning filmmakers will be offered distribution on JetBlue’s airline platform and Focus Features digital streaming or VOD platforms. This opportunity gives five selected fiction short filmmakers a cash prize of $10k, media promotion and mentorship, as well as distribution potential with JetBlue and Focus Features.
Eligibility: Students must be nominated by a faculty member from their institution. Nominations will be considered beginning in August of 2023.
The Fall 2023 Gotham EDU x Colgate University NYC Study Group
Supporting the ever-expanding group of students majoring, minoring, or generally interested in Film & Media Studies, the NYC study group is designed to be of interest to students engaged in performing, media, and visual arts broadly. Located in New York City, the study group immerses 15 students in rich cultural and artistic scenes, offering students new opportunities and frameworks in which to engage with the arts circularly and co-circularly.
Contact
For more information about Gotham EDU and our programs please contact Cait Carvalho, Director of Curriculum, Gotham EDU.