Fall 2009
VolumeVI Issue I
Mont Alto has changed up a few
things for the 2009-2010 school
year, kicking off with a series of
new classes and activities. One
of which is an innovative, two
year film project where students
create one collaborative
movie/documentary.
Students have devoted ™
much of their time to the |
new project, brainstorming |
for ideas on a theme. The
class is split into teams |
where their interests lie and
specialize in different areas
of production. There are 3
stages they will eventually
learn during the course’s du-
ration, including pre produc-
tion, production and post;
production. The intimate
class size of 15 students will
allow them to get to know
each other better and work
together frequently. So far, they
have been leaning toward film-
ing a feature length movie in-
stead of a documentary.
Uniquely, this class only meets
together on Friday nights and
chooses when to meet outside of
class amongst their groups. Each
semester the class focuses on a
different aspect of movie mak-
ing. The University Park advisor
for Digital Commons is involved
and comes to Mont Alto regu-
larly to keep acquainted with the
project.
Kevin Boon, part of the Mont
Alto faculty, teaches English,
literature as well as the upcom-
ing film project. He began teach-
ing at Penn State 10 years ago
Dr. Boon
and always wanted to start some
sort of filming organization but
had no means of funding. Now
that ‘there has been a develop-
ment in technology to record
video, it is less expensive and
achievable. Last year, Boon be-
gan putting much of his effort in
to starting the program. He was
able to get enough interested stu-
dents for the Committee to fund
the class.
community interest as well. The
mayor of Chambersburg, Pete
Lagiovane has always had an
interest in film and is involved in
the Cumberland Valley Film
Festival in Chambersburg. Boon
has the long term goal of having
a “watchable and entertain-
ing” film that can be shown
at CVFC and any other ex-
posure. At the very least he
learning experience for eve-
ryone involved.
Sophomore, Adam Eis-
entrout is a film major and
was awaiting a similar pro-
gram to start at U.P. Now,
that Mont Alto offers one, he
will partake in it here. His
focuses in the class are di-
recting and writing. Eisen-
trout has been able to work
with his diverse team, wit-
nessing “arguing and fight-
ing, already” but thinks the goal
ahead is to get past that and
creatively incorporate each
peer’s ideas for a final product.
This four part course is only at
the beginning and next spring
will likely emerge the first film
created by Mont Alto students.
With the rising interest and pro-
motion, there will be much more
heard about the progression of
this project.
By d oshua Trrigues
Posen hos thelr own a opinion
about horoscopes. There are
those that believe in them, those
that don’t, and those that just
don’t care. For those of you that
don’t know what horoscopes
are, horoscopes are based off of
when you were born and from
there, you are given a certain
sign, a set of characteristics that
define. ‘who you are, and other
signs that you are compatible
with J in. a relation: ex.
Many people usually look at
horoscopes to see if it matches
their personality or to see how
their day will turn out. Alyssa
Lee Politi, a sophomore major-
ing in Nutrition, says, “No, I
don’t believe what month
personality you may have or
when you’ll find your love or
when your love’s birthday
should be in.” She also says that
none of her horoscopes have
ever come true for her and that
she describes herself as “honest
which are
traits of a Capricorn. As luck
would have it, she happens to
be a Capricorn herself even
though she doesn’t believe in