Champlain College’s Division of Communication and Creative Media Announces Two Fellowship Programs with Stowe Story Labs

(Stowe and Burlington, VT – Feb. 1, 2016)  – The Division of Communication and Creative Media (CCM) at Champlain College and Stowe Story Labs are pleased to announce an expansion of their partnership to provide two CCM students competitive Fellowships to the Labs, which are held each fall at the Helen Day Arts Center in Stowe, Vt. The 2016 Labs will be held Sept. 10-13.

Entering its fourth year, Stowe Story Labs bring emerging screenwriters, filmmakers and creative producers to Stowe for four days to work with seasoned industry professionals to help get films made and seen. The labs focus on story structure and development, pitching and packaging, creative production and film sales and distribution. Lab participants come from around the world and are chosen for the program through a competitive application process.

Industry mentors include Academy Award Nominated Creative Producer Amy Hobby, who produced the narrative films Secretary and the Academy Award Nominated documentary “What Happened, Miss Simone?”; renowned Casting Director Ellen Parks, who cast such films as Secretary  and Sideways; Academy Award Nominated Screenwriter David Magee, who penned Finding Neverland and Life of Pi; and award winning writer and creative producer Anne Rosellini, who wrote and produced the groundbreaking film, Winter’s Bone.

In 2015, the CCM Division sponsored Creative Media major and filmmaker Jeremy MacKenzie to attend the 2015 Labs. Jeremy, now a senior, said:  “My experience at Stowe Story Labs exceeded my expectations.  The program is well designed and delivered. It includes valuable content as well as socializing time. It was important to spend time interacting with people who are active in the film industry in New York, Los Angeles, and around the world. The film community may be international, but it is also small enough that as a person advances in their career they inevitably will encounter these people again down the road. So the lab was not only valuable for the important experience the mentors had to share, but for its social networking opportunities as well.”  

In 2016, CCM will offer two Fellowships to the annual fall workshops. One fellowship will be granted to a CCM junior who has completed a feature length screenplay and demonstrates the maturity and commitment necessary to take full advantage of the mentorships and opportunities offered by the Stowe Story Labs.  A second fellowship will be awarded to a CCM graduating senior whose feature length screenplay, in addition to the criteria outlined above, also exhibits an advanced level of craft and a strong personal voice.  Both students will gain invaluable knowledge of the form, insight into in the industry, and professional connections.

“Jeremy’s experience last fall was so positive and meaningful that we decided to expand this partnership. By opening the Fellowship program to a junior and a senior we will help our filmmaking students achieve their goal of getting their scripts produced,” said Paula Willoquet-Maricondi, Dean of the Division of Communication and Creative Media. “Stowe Story Labs and CCM are fully aligned on mission and the Labs will help CCM students make the leap from student to practitioner,” she said.

“With Stowe Story Labs we hope to help talented writers and filmmakers develop the critical skills needed to get wonderful scripts turned into beautiful films,” said David Rocchio, Managing Director and Founder of the Labs. “Film is a decidedly collaborative art and business. Learning how to navigate the business is vital to getting work made. So is developing strong, positive collaborative relationships. We have built the Labs to help participants achieve both,” said Rocchio.

In addition to workshops, in-conversation interviews with industry pros, lectures, and time to work and reflect, the Labs offer evening film screenings, panel discussions, and informal reception

The application process for Champlain Fellowship students will be announced early in 2016. For more information about Stowe Story Labs please visit www.stowestorylabs.org. For more information about the Division of Communication and Creative Media, please visit http://ccm.champlain.edu/

For more information, contact:

• CCM: Julia Swift - jswift@champlain.edu - (802) 865-8425
• Stowe Story Labs: David Rocchio – (802) 279-1258