Smithtown is recently worked with artist Mel Chin on Project Paydirt in order to raise funds and awareness for Hurricane Katrina relief in Louisiana.

Images from the 4th annual filmmakers bootcamp will be held in Janurary at Smithtown High School East.  We will cover many different aspects of the film industry including: Animation, Storyboarding, Directing, Screenwriting, Narrative film, Documentary film, Comedy, Screenwriting, Graphic Design & Packaging, Digital Editing with Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects, and a parents workshop. 

The US News & World Report Arts College Ranking was recently updated click here to take a look: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/arts/artsindex_brief.php

Congratulations to AP artists: Jen, Kim, and Brian who were  accepting into this year's Digital Long Island Art Competition.  Their work will be displayed for all of next month and they will be featured in SchoolARTS magazine!

Congratulations to AP artist: Ian who won this years Shanti Peace Poster contest!

The Strictly Students Film Festival was held on May 12, 2007 at High School West.  The list of winners is available on our blog at: http://strictlystudents.blogspot.com/ or our website www.strictlystudentsfest.com.

Congratulations to Stephanie, Kelly, Stephanie, & Jen  for receiving a gold key awards in the regional Scholastic Art & Writing competition.  Stephanie's piece was chosen to receive a gold key award in the national competition.  Great job!

Congratulations to Jason who won the Best Documentary prize at this year's Strictly Students Film Festival.  His film was a look at a local small business in our town.

Congratulations to Stephanie, Blair, & Jessica for being accepted as finalists into the 2007 Suffolk County Congressional Art Show.

The Media Art Honor Society is working with Long Islands Big Brother & Big Sisters to create a volunteer film written and starring the little brothers and little sisters.

The 2nd annual filmmakers bootcamp was held last week at Smithtown High School East.  Our new screenwriting competition was premiered along with free workshops in various aspects of film.  We held workshops in Animation, Storyboarding, Directing, Narrative film, Documentary film, Comedy, Screenwriting, Graphic Design & Packaging, Digital Editing with Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects, and a parents workshop.  Presenters included an Oscar nominated producer Peter Bove,  Joseph Kluge a director and producer of True Colors and The Addams Family, Long Island International Film Expo winning director Mike Prywes, Storyboard artist Mike Arnold, Animator Peter Grass, Long Island screenwriter George Giokis, graphic designers Andrew and Ken Janosick, comedy director Mike Fasano, and educator and Adobe Master Teacher Tim Needles.

The New York Times featured Mr. Needles along with some of his students Sunday in an article about The 2nd Annual Strictly Students Film Festival.  This years festival has 1 new category for film work as well as two new graphic design categories.  Check our newly redesigned webpage for more information and advice on filmmaking.  Visit www.strictlystudentsfest.com for more information.

The 2nd annual Strictly Students Film Festival was held Saturday, April 22 and showed a group of eclectic films from across Long Island.  Congratulations to Smithtown West's Eric & Gabe who won the Best Animation award and Smithtown East's Samantha who won the Best Originality award at this years Strictly Students Film Festival!  Their film Goodbye Balloon was accepted and shown at Suffolk County's First Exposure Film Series at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on May 21, 2006.

The Strictly Students Film Festival held it's first Strictly Students Bootcamp, free workshops for all high school age students on January 7, 2006 at Smithtown High School West.  Workshops were in all six categories: feature, documentary, animation, and comedy, graphics/design, and screenwriting plus an additional workshop for parents.  Students from schools around Long Island participated and had an opportunity to learn from professionals in the industry

The Suffolk County Legislature recently awarded Mr. Needles and one of his filmmaking students James, who was the co-winner of best documentary film in The Strictly Students Film Festival.  Below they are pictured with Legislator John M. Kennedy Jr.  Suffolk County Legislator Lynn Nowick also awarded The Strictly Students Film Festival organizers and presented each committee member with a Certificate of Merit.

A student in Mr. Needles media arts class has won the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce Festival Day poster contest.  Below is her winning design which will be reproduced and displayed throughout town.

Congratulations to Smithtown High students Katherine and James, winners of the Strictly Students Film Festival Poster contest and Best Documentary co-winner!