Department of Fine and Performing Arts

VCDMA News

Hip-Hop Icon, Queen and Pioneer MC Sha-Rock Joins the BSU Department of Fine and Performing Arts and VCDMA minor in Hip-Hop Studies and Visual Culture

MC Sha-Rock, considered by musical artists and scholars to be the first female MC and hip-hop performer, has joined Bowie State University's Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts (VCDMA) program in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts as the Resident MC Hip-Hop Historian and adjunct professor. MC Sha-Rock will teach courses and work with students pursuing a minor in Hip-Hop Studies and Visual Culture. Learn more on the Hip-Hop Studies and Visual Culture minor and MC Sha-Rock. Watch the interview with MC Sha-Rock and prof. Tewodross M. Williams on ABC 7.

Harlem Fashion Row, ICON 360 x Gap, Inc. awarded to the Fashion Design program in VCDMA to enhance fashion design at BSU

Harlem Fashion Row, ICON360, and Gap Inc. are partnering to curate 'Closing The Gap'; an initiative supporting HBCU Fashion Departments Funded by Gap Inc. 'closing the Gap ' provides financial awards to deserving HBCUs that encourage black students to innovate and push the needle forward in the world of fashion.

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Laika Studios awards Animation & Motion Graphics (VCDMA) support to build a stop-motion animation studio

Laika has provided generous funding and support to VCDMA to establish the very 1st stop-motion animation studio at an HBCU. The studio will also assist VCDMA to develop a stop-motion animation curriculum and a pipeline to the animation industry.

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DFPA (VCDMA & Theatre Arts) students and alumni work on BET+HER and MEGAMIND MEDIA production for the series, "The Couch"; and films, "The Available Wife" and "All In"

Several students under the VCDMA major, digital cinema, and time-based media concentrations, as well as others in Theatre Arts and Communications all successfully worked as production interns under various departments for (4) four short films that aired on BET+HER in 2020. These powerful films are part of a series titled THE COUCH and are part of the network's campaign to focus on mental health awareness month. They are all directed and produced by women and the executive producer is BSU alumna, Tressa Azarel Smallwood, through her studio MEGAMIND MEDIA. These films were directed by Kim Fields, Victoria Rowell, Vanessa Bell Calloway, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. More films to come in 2021.

VCDMA professors Tewodross M. Williams and Maggy Francois also worked on the BET +HER projects along with VCDMA student production interns on the films "The Available Wife" and "All In" which are now streaming on the All BLK TV and Amazon prime video networks.

VCDMA Students

Serena Lee (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media)
Kaylin Luces (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media)
Stacey Amon (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media)
Mark Houston (Advertising Design)
Madison Simmons (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media)
Chase Taliaferro (Animation & Motion Graphics)
Erica Waddy (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media)

Communications Students

Destiny Stephens

Alumni

Ariyanna Agnew (Advertising Design, '20)
Malik Affortu (Animation & Motion Graphics, '19)
Didas Akognon (VCDMA, Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media, '20)
Ivy Coburn (Animation & Motion Graphics, '19)
Beyjhaha Jackson (Animation & Motion Graphics, '19)
Whitney Jefferson (Theatre Arts, Musical Theatre, '20)
Maleik Lewis (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media, '21)
Ahmed McClendon (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media, '19)
Kandice Morton (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media, '21)
Angelina Mushala (Fashion Design, '20)
Shalom Omo-Osagie (Theatre Arts, Acting & Directing, '20)
Nayeli Rochel (Communications, '19)
Kelisha Perry (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media, '18)
Destiny Stephens (Communications, '20)
Imani Washington (Digital Cinema & Time-Based Media, '18)
Laikima Williams (Theatre Arts, Acting & Directing, '21)
Nikki Williams (Advertising Design, '10)

Sites

Bowie State University's Senior Thesis Virtual Exhibition featured on Bmore Art

The online exhibition includes graduating seniors from the fine arts, studio art concentration, and visual communication and digital media arts (VCDMA) programs in the Department of Fine & Performing Arts. According to gallery coordinator Janell B. Pryor, “The artworks on this digital platform are visual reflections of self-discovery, affirmation, self-care, and cultural enlightenment. Interpretations of the students’ personal experiences and observations are expressed through film, advertising design, fashion, digital media arts, and photography.”

Mia Joseph (VCDMA, Animation & Motion Graphics, '19) represented Bowie State well as an animation production intern with Sony Picture Animation team this summer. Additionally, as part of the HBCU in LA Internship Program, Mia served as the Co-Director of our inaugural HBCU in LA Student Film Project. She along with 30 HBCU Scholars visited Los Angeles this summer. The students received mentorship from industry leaders and professionals during the making of the film. Panavision and the Cinematographer’s Union provided top of the line equipment and crew for the project. HBCU in LA are proud to be the first program to showcase aspiring HBCU student writers, directors, actors and below-the-line talent to the industry! Below is a behind-the-scenes video of the inaugural HBCU Student Film Project. Never before has an HBCU student produced film been showcased to the industry.

Check out the making of HBCU in LA student film

Get more info on the HBCU in LA program

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