Spotlight on Huntington Filmmaker Melissa Rosenberg
It won't be long before Huntington High School senior Melissa Rosenberg gathers up her belongings and heads off to Emerson College in Boston to study film and post-production. She is a gifted video arts student who is currently developing her "masterpiece" along with a talented classmate. The pair will show the film later this month at the Huntington Film Festival at the Cinema Arts Centre.
Ms. Rosenberg is a creative, intelligent, well-spoken, funny and hardworking teenager who sets high standards for herself. She's a true artist who has developed close relationships with a number of high school teachers from several departments. While the high school faculty will miss the senior's bubbly personality next year, teachers are excited to see what Ms. Rosenberg can accomplish at Emerson College and beyond.
"Although some see the video arts classes as an elective, students like Melissa remind me how gratifying it is to help students find their passion and hopefully open doors to a prosperous career path. Melissa is exceptionally talented with a passion for learning and the ability to inspire everyone around her. I know we will stay in contact, but I will miss her beyond words."...Video arts teacher Heather Swan on Melissa Rosenberg
Questions and Answers with Melissa Rosenberg
Q: How old are you and what grade are you in?
Rosenberg: "I'm 18 years old and in 12th grade."
Q: How did you first get interested in filmmaking?
Rosenberg: "I first got interested in video when I saw my brother, David taking the class and loving it. He was creating so many cool things and I wanted to be part of it. I also have always loved movies and creating stories. As a child I was always writing stories or going around with my cousins making our own little movies. This class allowed me to explore this hobby and turn it into a real skill."
Q: Where do you draw inspiration from?
Rosenberg: "I get my inspiration from the movies I see or through real life situations that I or my friends go through."
Q: Is there any specific genre that you like best?
Rosenberg: "I don't have a specific genre that I like best, but I find that I'm constantly doing dramatic videos. In college, I really want to explore comedic movies because I haven't really done anything in that genre."
Q: How closely have you worked with Mrs. Swan over the years?
Rosenberg: "Mrs. Swan has taught me everything I needed to know. She took the time to teach me how to take the stories I'd always had in my head and turn them into a real tangible thing to watch and enjoy. As a teacher, that's obviously her job, but she does it with such passion that I enjoyed learning and coming to class every day just so I could continue working on the projects she was teaching and ready to learn the new technique. The incredible video lab that is made available to the students is truly of professional quality. It is a room that fosters creativity and it has been an extremely positive experience for the district and me."
Q: What are your favorite memories of the video arts program?
Rosenberg: "I have so many amazing memories from video. Whether it was the Lib Dub I was part of in my sophomore year or the Christmas video I directed during my junior year or just every time I went out and shot my next video, I loved it. The most fun personal project happens to be the last one that I'm doing for my high school career. I'm working on it with Daniel Moya. Together we've been taking every skill we've ever learned and are making a 10 minute video, the longest either of us has done. We've been working with real costumes and make-up, sound effects, props and a full length script. The video will be completed shortly and shown at the Huntington High School Film Festival. I can't wait for everyone to see the final piece because it is definitely our best."
Q: Have you participated in any film festivals?
Rosenberg: "The film festivals that I've participated in range in scope. I've had a video in the Long Island Media Arts Show at Five Towns College every year since my sophomore year, I've been nominated for best editing by the MSG Varsity V Awards and the NYCM Distracted Driving video contest and I've had videos playing every year in the district art show as well as the annual Huntington High School Film Festival hosted by Mrs. Swan."
Q: Which Huntington High School teachers have influenced you the most?
Rosenberg: "Ms. Piffard has been an important teacher for me throughout high school because while Mrs. Swan taught me the film aspect of everything, Piff has taught me the photography side, which has helped tremendously with my video projects since photography skill and video skill go hand in hand. I've also just simply enjoyed everything that she's ever taught me. The photography program is so amazing and I'm so thankful for everything she's been teaching me.
Mrs. Meyer has also been there for me since freshman year, helping me to pass math, a subject I've always struggled with. She was my ninth grade teacher, but I kept a strong relationship with her and was able to continue going to her for help throughout high school. She wasn't just a teacher to me though since she became someone I went to just to say 'hi' to because her warm smile and funny personality made her an enjoyable person to be around."
Q: What are your plans for next year?
Rosenberg: "I am going to Emerson College in Boston. I will be studying film with a concentration in post-production. My end goal is to become a film editor and work with some big-time actors and directors. A dream come true would be to work with Derek Cianfrance, director of The Place Beyond the Pines and Blue Valentine. I love his style and his works have inspired me."