NYU quote 2

“Through these programs, students gain an enriching, enlightening experience, and a better understanding of the nature of a professional training program.” This is another quote that I used for my final project. It answered another question that I used for the core of the assignment. I focused on how exactly NYU's Tisch School of Art prepared their students for their future career. This quote reflects how NYU thinks their education standards are and how they help their students' development.

NYU

"Can foundations really make a difference?"

- NYU Professor Beth C. Weitzman

This is a quote by an NYU professor that I found interesting and thought would be useful for my assignment. My central question for my essay was "Does NYU efficiently prepare aspiring actors for their desired field of choice in the industry?" This quote is found at nyu.edu.

Clive Davis quote

“I am enormously proud to play a part in the creation of this new program which will give ambitious and hard-working young men and women the fundamentals and skills to serve as the foundation for success in the industry that I love. I can think of no better place for such a program to reside than at the Tisch School of the Arts, the country’s greatest performing arts school, located in the performing arts capital of the world.” by Clive Davis

I found this quote intriguing because it shows a successful person trying to help the youth of today's day and age. It also shows how he feels about NYU and their art program. He feels that it is the best place to help aspiring actors, singers and other young people who want a career in the entertainment business. Not only does Clive Davis "say" he would like to help the youth but he did something to make a difference by developing a program in which he can help them by himself since he holds a very high position at J-Records (A very prominent record label in the music industry; home to many successful music artists such as Mario and Alicia Keys).

www.nyu.edu/nyutoday/archives/16/04/PageOneStories/Davis.html

English Final Project

Chavous Hatchell

Professor Marshall

English

April 22, 2007

In today’s times, it is almost impossible to get a good job without a college degree. By the eleventh grade, most students have a good idea of which schools they’re intending to apply to. One of the most prestigious schools that you’ll find on many high school students’ list is New York University (NYU). NYU is held in high regards by many and also discourages high school students because of its well known entrance policy. It is known to have a strict acceptance policy and attempt to only accept the best students in the country. NYU is located in Greenwich called the Washington Square campus. It was founded April 18, 1831 by Albert Gallatin. Gallatin served in the U.S. Treasury under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. He, along with other University founding fathers, wanted to make NYU a “center of higher learning that would be open to all, regardless of national origin, religious beliefs, or social background.” NYU went from a student body of 158 to enrollment being close to 40,000 students amongst 14 schools with colleges at six different locations in Manhattan. This shows the vast expansion of this prestigious university over the years. What is NYU’s major focus? As a school, what are its goals? What field is it most prominent in? NYU’s major focus and prominent field is the art department.

NYU is famous for its strength in the arts field. It has been the Alma mater to many past and present celebrities in both movies and television such as, Woody Allen, Whoopi Goldberg, Angelina Jolie, Debra Messing and Marisa Tomei to name a few. Not only does NYU produce actors that eventually obtain a mainstream career, but the afore said names have also been winners of the Academy, Grammy or Emmy Awards. NYU offers a wide variety of art teachings to their prospective students. The Tisch School of the Arts is in association with NYU and offers preparation for one’s craft in the arts. Tisch has been around for over 40 years dating back to 1965. It enrolls 3200 students a year within 14 different programs with hopes and intentions of earning degrees such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s of Fine Arts. It provides teaching in both theater and film. The school has escalated and expanded its teachings to different departments such as theatrical design, theatrical lighting, cinema studies and dance. It includes a Drama Department, Interactive Telecommunications Program, Dramatic Writing Department, Performance Studies Department, Musical Theater Writing Program and many others that contribute to it being one of the best art schools in the nation. Recent news regarding the Tisch school art dept. is the development of the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music which was founded in 2003 (nyu.edu).

The Tisch School offers opportunities for high school students to get a head start on beginning their college studies. Over the summer time, Tisch holds classes at the campuses in New York, Dublin and Paris. “Through these programs, students gain an enriching, enlightening experience, and a better understanding of the nature of a professional training program” (Tisch.nyu.edu). The summer schooling programs are each four weeks long. The students enrolled in the program take college courses in order to get the foundation and a brief preview of college schooling. Once this summer program is fully completed, the student receives six full college credits which are applicable for NYU courses (Tisch.nyu.edu). Its summer drama program provides 28 hours of training a week which provides training courses at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, the Experimental Theatre Wing, or Collaborative Arts Project 21. It also offers a seminar every week at the New York Theatre on the origin of the profession with Tisch’s faculty staff (Tisch.nyu.edu). “The emphasis of the program is on the process, not the product. Students are here to be challenged, to learn, and to grow. While there is no final performance in this program, there are viewings that allow students to share pieces of work with guests and students from other studios” (Tisch.nyu.edu).

The development of this department was made possible due to a five million dollar donation from Clive Davis who is not only the CEO and founder of one of today’s most prominent recording label J-Records but also an NYU alumnus. Davis is well known for his nose for good talent. He has played parts in the careers of famous mainstream singers such as Carlos Santana, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Whitney Houston, Patti Smith, and Alicia Keys. A quote by Clive Davis reads, “I am enormously proud to play a part in the creation of this new program which will give ambitious and hard-working young men and women the fundamentals and skills to serve as the foundation for success in the industry that I love. I can think of no better place for such a program to reside than at the Tisch School of the Arts, the country’s greatest performing arts school, located in the performing arts capital of the world.” This department is a four-year undergraduate program that educates students in all standards of current music. The department teachings include the history of many different genres of music ranging from rock to jazz. It also teaches the impact of recorded music on different cultures in today’s society. Upon graduation, students receive a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts.

During my research of the Tisch School’s art program, I thought it would be interesting to interview a colleague of mine who attends NYU to get a personal response about the program. My colleague, Emily Ciotti, explained to me that she attends NYU as a drama major in hopes of either being in movies or on Broadway performing. For her acting classes, she went to a conservatory off campus where she endured nine hours of immense training three days out of the week. She also said that her NYU academic class was a mandatory writing class. She was required to take an Intro to Theater Studies class the 1^st semester followed by an Intro to Theater Production course during the 2^nd semester. Aside from these Theater classes, she was responsible for the completion of five papers written over the course of the year, three during the 1^st semester and two during the 2^nd.

For her required written assignments, the papers were called “Reckoning Papers.” With these papers, the student is instructed to take a certain work from the field, research and reflect on it. The first assignment was a piece of art from the Manhattan Ensemble Theater. The second was an essay from their anthology, the third was any film; the fourth was a piece of public art while the final is the selection of an artist and discussing their preoccupation in which you find throughout their work. As of right now, she is currently on her 2^nd draft of the final writing assignment. “With these ‘Moments of Fascination,’ you discuss big ideas as well as put other essays, movies, art works, books, and poems into conversation with each other” (Emily Ciotti). During her studio training, she has to engage in character class, scene study, Shakespeare, voice, speech, ballet, improv, and movement technique. For Shakespeare and scene study, the students are to prepare scenes outside of class with one other person and bring them to class. The teacher works with the students’ scenes in order to help improve their acting techniques. She summed up her character training as being taught and practicing how to stay in “character” as well as bringing the character to life during the work. During these courses, the student in training is assisted in the development of their acting talent. The ballet and improv training sessions are once a week as well as voice and speech. The main reason voice and speech is scheduled once a week is to preserve the students’ voices because the “voice is the most important tool for the actor” (Emily Ciotti). Movement training is to allow the body to be free and be used to fulfill the character.

Emily’s reflection on her first year at NYU’s Tisch art school was positive overall. She gave me great feedback on from the inside of how the Tisch art school prepares students. She informed me on the strenuous work and training she had to endure throughout both semesters. When I asked her if what she has learned this school year has prepared her to take her career to the next level of mainstream performing, her response was “Tremendously.” She feels that the schools training and education is difficult at times but is beneficial to aspiring actors in the long run. From a first hand voice, I have been made aware that NYU’s art program is an excellent choice for preparation of acting on the mainstream level.

After the interview with my colleague Emily, I understand how she is going through vigorous training in order to better prepare herself for her future career in the acting industry. She is away at art school attempting to accomplish her goal of becoming an actor at one of the most prestigious art schools and in one of the most prominent cities in the world. All throughout high school, she participated in voice classes and acted in the school play productions in order to get a foundation or starting block for her destined goals. On the other hand, in high school, I only focused on academics as opposed to extra curricular activities such as drama and sports.

When I speak of my aspirations of becoming a famous movie star, many people believe that I have made a career choice. My family is aware of my passion for acting and is willing to support me completely if I choose to fulfill this dream. As of now, I do not want to pursue an acting career. When I speak of it I refer to it as a dream because that all it is to me. Even back in my elementary school years, I would dream and imagine being on television or the movie screen. This dream of becoming an actor serves as my connection and catalyst for why I wrote about and researched NYU’s art school. One of my favorite quotes which I carry in my heart always is, “A dream deferred is like a raisin in the sun” (Langston Hughes). This quote later went on to inspire Lorraine Hansberry to write one my favorite books entitled “A Raisin in the Sun.” My father explained this quote in a different light saying that a delayed dream can be affected the same way as a raisin shrivels up in the sun’s high heat. Although my father was the main advocate expressing to me that it is better to be realistic in picking life goals, he continues to remind me that he will support me and whatever my decision may be. At this point in my life, I am content being in school to become a lawyer instead of pursuing a dream in the acting industry. My dream will remain a dream.

NYU wasn’t originally on my list of choice schools while I was in high school. It wasn’t until recent research and consideration that I saw and admired what NYU has to offer students in their astounding arts department. Not only does it offer education in the arts such as Broadway, television and film but now, has a major department in the field of recorded music. I wouldn’t mind attending that school with intentions of becoming an actor because of its prestigious reputation and great resume of graduates that have been educated and propelled to the top of their fields. NYU has been very prominent in the past and will be for future years to come. Each year, thousands of teenagers with dreams of acting careers in movies, television, or Broadway plays do their best to gain acceptance to one of the best schools in the nation. With this in mind, it is safe to say that NYU will remain a strong school and help produce our future stars of entertainment in future years to come.

Works Cited

1. McMillan, Marilyn. "About NYU". New York University. 11 April 2007 .

2. Fowler, Aaron. "About Tisch". New York University: Tisch School of the Arts. 11 April 2007 .

3. McMillan, Marilyn. "NYU Today". New York University: NYU Today. 11 April 2007 .

4. Fowler, Aaron. "Tisch School: Special Programs". New York University: Tisch School of the Arts. 11 April 2007 .

5. Ciotti, Emily. Personal Interview. 21 April 2007.

Study tips

Finals, the worst form of torture a teacher could impose on his or her students. Now, if you were like me, and decided to study everything the night before, then you may not do so well on that exam. In this entry, I will give you some tips on how to study, and explain why these are good tips.

First things first, make sure you go to class during the semester. The day before the exam, you don’t want to be studying all this random stuff you don’t know about. You need to actually learn the stuff you’re studying, if you don’t than all this stuff is pointless. Next make sure the television is off, and if there is music being played, remember to put classical or music with no lyrics. If you insist on lyrics in your music, put on a song you know the words to, or you’ll probably pay attention to the lyrics instead of your physics notes. Another important pointer is to study before the night before, so you know what you’re studying. Lastly, if you have trouble remembering your notes, as you’re studying, write them down again, that way you’ll have everything embedded in your memory when you look at that test.

In conclusion, if you insist on waiting the night before and you take these tips, to go to class, put on some classical music, and copy down your notes while studying, you’ll be set when it comes to finals in a few weeks.

Yankees vs. Redsox Rivalry pt. 2

One of the things I really enjoyed about college is meeting people from all over the country. I’m from New Jersey so I’m used to the people from New York. One of my suitemates is from Boston, Massachusetts so he obviously is a Boston Redsox fan and a Yankee hater. He wrote the previously posted story in hopes of further explaining of the implicit rivalry.

There are rivalries in all types of entertainment or sports. One of this magnitude is good for life because it gives players more to play for. Instead of the players only playing for their 8 figure checks, the play for pride. They also play for the pride of their fans who take this rivalry just as serious, if not more than the players do. It’s good to have great competition like this amongst extremely arrogant rich men. It makes the players play and actually want to instead of just going through the motions for their salaries.

Yankees vs. Redsox Rivalry

Two sworn enemies, both at least hundreds of years old, and neither of them planning on reconciling their differences. They live close to each other, yet never get along, and whenever they get together, there is usually a fight. I’m talking about thousands of people, living in the same area, and still being arch-enemies. If you thought I was talking about the Civil War, you were wrong, and I’m sorry. This rivalry that I’m speaking of is that of the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. I’ve done extensive research on Baseball-almanac.com and both the team websites, so if anybody here ever wanted to know anything about the history of these two teams, how the rivalry started, and where the rivalry has gone since the beginning, today is your day.

According to Baseball-almanac.com, the Boston Red Sox came into the American League, which was the official professional baseball league back then, in 1901. Within two seasons of playing, the Red Sox won their first World Series in 1903 led by the legendary Cy Young, the right handed pitcher that set the path for many great pitchers to come. The Boston Red Sox, then the Braves, adopted the name “Red Sox,” in 1907. They went on to win championships in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918. In 1914, the Sox debuted a left-handed pitcher who went by the name of Babe Ruth. Winning a total of 89 games within the next 6 years established Babe as one of the premier pitchers in the majors. He also had quite a knack for hitting home-runs and in 1919 made a name for himself amongst the sluggers when he hit a remarkably unheard of 29 homer’s. By the end of the year, the finances of the Sox’s owner then, Harry Frazee, were spiraling quickly. In an effort to boost his financial record, Frazee made what is now the most infamous deal in the history of Major League Baseball: he sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. This was an abomination to the Sox fans and from this deal came the infamous “curse of the Bambino” which was a curse the Red Sox felt was bestowed on them once they got rid of the Babe. From then on, the Sox were plagued with utterly disappointing seasons. Despite the amazing players that crossed their paths, and the amazing title bid’s they would make, they would always seem to lose their chances in heart-breakers. That is, until 2004 when they finally broke this “curse,” and won their first championship since 1918. As of now, the curse is gone, and the Red Sox had a new beginning to start on. No more blaming anyone else for their losses!

According the New York Yankee’s team website, the Yanks began their careers as the New York Highlanders, in 1903, when they were bought by a couple New York bartenders for 8,000 dollars, planning on moving an old Baltimore franchise to the north. The Yankees, who were known as the Highlanders until 1912 weren’t a team to be reckoned with until the year of 1920, when they made a tremendous deal to sign a young charismatic pitching Ace and slugger named Babe Ruth. From then on, things were to change. Along with Babe, the Yankees began to rake in talent, left and right, like the great first baseman Lou Gehrig and the legendary outfielder Joe DiMaggio. Thus begins the Yankees dynasty. They won three straight pennants making a challenge for the title from 1921 to 1923. They won their first in 1923 when they first moved into Yankee Stadium. From then on, it was pure domination. The Yanks won again in 1927 and ’28, then ’32, again in ’36, all the way through ’39. From 1941 to 1950 they won 5 more championships. They won championships from ’51 to ’53. Then again in ’56, and from then until ’62 they won 4 titles. They won again in ’77 and ’78. After that, they went on a sudden drought. The next 16 years were years of reconstruction, and by 1996, the Yankees were back to their old ways. They won 3 more championships between then and 2000. The Yankees haven’t won yet this decade, but according to their history, they are due up soon.

If you look at the history of those two teams, they both have one thing specifically in common: Babe Ruth. Once the Yankees got Ruth, they prospered, and Boston fell behind…horribly. It was a drastic turn of events, seeing as back at the turn of the 20^th century, the Red Sox were then the best team to play ever, setting winning records non-stop, yet by 1920, they switched spots with the Yanks, and became the laughing stock of the MLB. From then on, things became rough, and whenever the team’s got together, there was always a major brawl. The two teams would continuously be in the race to win the pennant, and the Yankees would usually come out on time. You can obviously see why these two teams would dislike one another. This rivalry has been the center of many baseball fans and baseball player’s lives. There are still players that even after retirement, still dislike the other team. Even the fans are affected. There have been countless accounts where there have been legitimate fights over the two teams. In one instance, in 2004, the day after the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series; there was a man who killed his two friends in a tussle involving this ongoing quarrel. In another case, after this Curse-Breaking win, there were people rioting in the streets in Boston whom were being contained by policeman got a little out of control. A woman was shot and killed in the middle of the celebrations in an accident. As you can see, things may get out of hand with this rivalry. It even takes over the conscious’s of the players and leads to extremely unprofessional acts.

The “original brawl,” occurred on May 30, 1938, when Red Sox player and manager Joe Cronin and Yankees Outfielder Jake Powell broke out in a fight beneath the stands in front of thousands of fans in Yankee stadium. Perhaps one of the most infamous brawl in baseball history, on May 20, 1976, the Yankees Thurman Munson, as he was rounding the bases, collided with Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, which ignited in a huge fight where the two were ejected from the game and fined generously. Although there were many instances of fights in between ’76 and ’03, this brawl seems its overshadowed all the others. In an American League Championship game against the Yankees, a great brawl broke out where the Yankees 73 year old bench coach, Don Zimmerman lunged at the Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez. Martinez moved out the way and threw Zimmerman down, which ignited an even bigger brawl. On July 24, 2004, the Yankees third Baseman, Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and exchanged heated words with Sox catcher Jason Varitek. The two began fighting and caused a bench clearing brawl. It seems as though the two teams have no shame, and find it worth the while to fight each other.

All in all, I see this rivalry as the biggest in the sports world, period. It’s had a thorough history and it’s the best rivalry because it’s two of the most established franchises in the game, who always bring their top game whenever they play. The Red Sox – Yankees Rivalry will never end because the tradition has carried on for almost 100 years.