Film Professor Shares 4 Must-Watch LGBTQ Media for Pride 2024
In celebration of Pride Month 2024, Dr. Alfred Martin, associate professor in the Department of Cinematic Arts, shares four must-watch LGBTQ films and shows. Dr. Martin, a scholar of Media Studies, has authored several books including The Generic Closet: Black Gayness and the Black-Cast Sitcom as well as Rolling: Blackness and Mediated Comedy. His course, Queer Media Studies, equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the history and development of U.S. LGBTQ media by focusing on media production, sociocultural context, media reception, and texts. In curating his list, Dr. Martin [...]
Free Screening and Book Signing with Author Marsha Gordon
By Karina Valdes Marsha Gordon, author of “BECOMING THE EX-WIFE: The Unconventional Life and Forgotten Writings of Ursula Parrott,” will be at the Bill Cosford Cinema on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. for a book signing and screening of the film, “There’s Always Tomorrow,” based on a story by Ursula Parrott. "For any movie-lover seeking an introduction to Ursula Parrott, ‘There's Always Tomorrow’ has so much to offer," said Christina Lane, professor of Film Studies in the Department of Cinematic Arts. "Featuring one of the greatest screen pairings of all [...]
Second Annual SMIFF Shines a Spotlight on International Filmmakers
By Karina Valdes For three nights, the Bill Cosford Cinema is setting the stage for established and emerging short filmmakers to showcase their work during the Second Annual Shorts Miami International Film Festival (SMIFF). The juried festival awards cash prizes to the most engaging films, including a $2000 Best of the Festival award. "We are proud to host this international film festival. This festival offers a range of diverse global perspectives, which may challenge and delight as we experience this special opportunity to witness the best contemporary short films produced [...]
Assistant Professor Shares His Acting, Directing Experience
By Franco LaTona Rafal Sokolowski, assistant professor of film directing for the Department of Cinematic Arts in the School of Communication, brings his acting and directing skills to teaching the art.
Film ‘Aguadilla’ Depicts Migrants’ Tumultuous Journeys to Puerto Rico
By Caroline Val Professor Tom Musca and a crew of School of Communication students and alumni spent the summer producing a feature-length film inspired by the stories of Dominican immigrants who flee to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, seeking better opportunities. As Tom Musca sat on the balcony of a longtime friend’s home, with the town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico in the distance, he suddenly noticed a rustling in the trees beneath them. When he inquired about the commotion to his friend Noel Quiñones, a pilot and film colleague, the gentleman coolly [...]
Alumnus Sketched and Fulfilled His Dream Job
By Brandi Troup From Florida and the University of Miami to California, Dustin Romero brought his artistic talents, ambitions, and dreams with him. And now he is a character layout artist for “The Simpsons.” A proud alumnus of the University of Miami, Dustin Romero is a character layout artist for the longstanding show “The Simpsons.” Though his path to California hasn’t been linear, working in the realm of art was Romero’s fate. “I would draw all the time,” he said. “My mother used to joke that I was born with [...]
Crafting Films to ‘Unjudge,’ Celebrate Humanity
By Michael R. Malone Student filmmakers in the School of Communication “Human Book” project have generated short films, all entries in the Canes Film Festival, that challenge stereotypes, celebrate resiliency, and bring the best of humanity into sharp focus. Charged with using their cameras to tell the stories of extraordinary individuals, student filmmakers in the M.F.A. Documentary program have crafted short narrative films that explore a spectrum of inspiring personalities—a Ukrainian ballet dancer, a reformed felon in Coconut Grove, and entrepreneurial sisters who share their love for dance. The films [...]