The Award for Best Animated Feature Goes To…
Mondays, March 22–May 24, 2010 (9 classes*)
*Open studio on March 29. MCG closed on May 31.
Lead Artist: Keith Hershberger

Do you sketch your own characters? Write stories? Consider yourself a born director? If you are saying, “yes, yes, yes”—or you have any desire to—then this class is for you. Produce a short animation from start to finish: write stories, create characters, and build miniature sets, props, and backgrounds. Then animate your characters using stop motion software programs like Frame Thief and Animator DV. Plus, compose a musical soundtrack and record voiceovers. Finally, edit the video and take home a finished DVD. No prior experience needed—you may even win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

And the Beat Goes On
Tuesdays, March 23–June 1, 2010 (10 classes*)
*Open studio on March 30.
Lead Artist: Jill Wiggins

Whether you’re an audiophile, an aspiring musician, or just enjoy bobbing your head and tapping your toes then you will think this class rocks! Using a huge selection of prerecorded loops, you will create and produce your own songs and burn them onto a CD. Plus, musicians will be able to record their own tracks using the Yamaha synthesizer keyboards in our Mac computer lab. Take a chance to shine on stage and participate in songwriting challenges, when guest judges will award prizes. All skill levels welcome.

Dynamic Decals
Wednesdays, March 24–June 2, 2010 (10 classes*)
*Open studio on March 31. Cross-listed in the digital studio.
Lead Artists: David Deily and Jeff Guerrero

Calling all ceramics and graphic design lovers! Don’t miss your opportunity to combine these unique media into one process that results in pottery bearing precision graphics. Starting with either your own artwork or pre-made designs, we will laser print decals that can be applied to the surface of clay! Whether you want to make functional dinnerware or a sculptural masterpiece, we’ll help you make your unique vision a reality. Even if you have never been in the ceramics studio or tried your hand at graphic design, this course will open your mind to new possibilities.

Making the Documentary
Wednesdays, March 24–June 2, 2010 (10 classes*)
*Open studio on March 31. Cross-listed in the digital studio.
Lead Artists: Digital Team with Steeltown Youth & Media

Learn how to make a documentary with local filmmaker Carl Kurlander (“Saved by the Bell,” “My Tale of Two Cities”)—the subject is MCG! Explore lighting, sound and camera equipment used on a real film set. Learn about the characters that make MCG unique while you work as a team to conduct interviews with administrators, faculty, and students. You will work in teams to research historical images, collect “B-roll,” and edit a 5-minute video all about MCG! This class gives you the chance to tell the world about YOUR MCG.

Marketing for the Video Game Industry
Thursdays, March 25–June 3, 2010 (10 classes*)
*Open studio on April 1.
Lead Artist: Jeff Guerrero

If you love video games, you may not realize how must effort goes into swaying people to buy them. But, now is your chance to learn about visual marketing tactics while improving your skills in using Adobe design software like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. From packaging, to posters and advertisements, to point-of-purchase displays and online promotions, we’ll have fun creating projects while investigating the industry of one of the world’s most popular forms of entertainment. Join the digital arts crew on Thursdays, and get your game face on!

Open Studio
Fridays, March 26–June 4, 2010 (10 sessions*)
*MCG is closed on April 2.
Lead Artists: Digital Studio Team

If you are enrolled in a class in the digital studio, Friday open studios are a great way to advance your projectand learn new skills. If you are a digital arts freshman but want to check it out, you may sign up each week to try a sample project using software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash or Sony Acid. Do you have some experience in digital media but not enrolled in a class? Then you may develop an independent study project with an instructor. Please remember, computers are limited in the digital studio so students who sign-up in advance will have first priority.