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.