Newhouse is constantly buzzing with creative energy. Take one step inside, and you will see it: the students packed into Food.com booths collaborating on magazine projects, the breathtaking displays of photography and graphic design projects decorating the walls, students posted outside with larger-than-life cameras and mics to film a broadcast package.
One of my favorite things about Newhouse is how many opportunities there are to fuel creativity among other Newhouse students, both through Newhouse programs and external endeavors. Not only do these opportunities create space for artistic expression, but they also equip you with unique experiences and provide engaging ways to learn about different industries.
A recent experience I had that ignited my creative passion for the arts was acting in a film project for Audrey Weisburd, a fellow Newhouse student. Wesiburd’s final assignment for her TRF 451 class, Directing, entailed writing and directing a short film. After writing an experimental, dreamlike script, Weisburd formed a crew of students, both inside and outside of Newhouse.
When I arrived on the film set, there were crew members for photography, sound design, production design, etc. Overall, it was a stellar experience! I had a lot of fun learning the script and becoming the character “Kate” for the short film, but I also gained a better understanding of the mechanics behind film sets and production. Additionally, it was rewarding to see all our hard work come together on screen a few weeks later when the short film premiered.
One way to mix groovy dancing with academic enhancing is to attend an event and write about it. The NewsHouse is a fabulous digital publication on campus that has an entire section dedicated to entertainment. Weekly entertainment at local venues like the Syracuse Landmark, the Westcott Theatre, and Funk’n Waffles offers a wealth of inspiration for writing. From covering an up-and-coming DJ’s show to reviewing a traveling Broadway production, these opportunities not only exercise your journalistic brain, but also deepen your connection to the local arts community.
Ally Watkinson, a graduate student in the Goldring program, pitched an event coverage story about one of her favorite artists, Eliza McLamb, to The NewHouse after hearing that McLamb would be performing at The Song & Dance Theatre. Approved by NewsHouse producer, Watkinson got to interview McLamb and wrote an article covering the event.
“It was really cool to bring to life something I envisioned and pitched,” Watkinson said.
Interested in putting multimedia storytelling into practice? Newhouse has loads of student-run magazines that cover different topics and involve many forms of media production. On-campus magazines can include teams of writers, graphic designers, photographers, social media coordinators and creative directors, inviting students to dabble in different creative fields and meet other students with likeminded interests.
One example, Zipped magazine, is a Newhouse publication that focuses on fashion and beauty. Students involved in the magazine can engage in a broad spectrum of media, from photography to promotional social media content.
Newhouse and Syracuse University’s campus as a whole provides so many opportunities for students to have dynamic experiences engaging in creative production. Additionally, these opportunities might just give us the experience we need to take into our professional careers after graduating!
Colette Goldstein is a graduate student in the Goldring arts, style and culture journalism program.