Ex’pression Center for New Media (Emeryville, Calif.) announced that it has extended its animation, film and gaming mentorship program to its Sound Arts students. Currently lined up to act as one-on-one mentors are pros from The Plant Studios, American Zoetrope, John Lennon Tour Bus, The Sound Department, LucasArts, Fantasy Studios, Emagic and a professional touring manager who has worked with Prince, Journey, Michael Jackson and Steve Miller Band, as well as Mix’s sound reinforcement editor/sound engineer Mark Frink.
“We have received such a great response from both students and industry professionals to help formalize our Sound Arts mentor program,” said Shiloh Hobel, director industry relations for Sound Arts for Ex’pression. “Ex’pression differentiates itself from other educational institutions by offering a structured mentor program that consists of industry leaders. We’re overjoyed at the enthusiasm and promise this program offers our current and future student population.”
The mentor’s primary function is to provide guidance and advice to students on how to strengthen their work and exposure to the real-world work environment. Mentors have written letters of reference and recommendation, introduced students to others within their company and arranged for interviews by hiring personnel, providing a way for students to begin the networking process within the field of their choice prior to graduation.
“Our current program has been so successful that many of our mentors have gone onto mentor their second and sometimes third students,” commented Gary Platt, president and founder of the school. “It can take any given graduate or professional years, maybe even their entire career, to get this critical exposure to technique and experience. There’s simply no other venue or institution out there that allows students the opportunity to learn and possibly land a job with the industry’s top organizations, working alongside the best of talent!”
For more, visit Ex’pression online at www.expression.edu. For more education-related stories, visit mixonline.com/education_articles/index.htm. Peruse through this year’s “Audio Education Guide” at mixonline.com/ar/audio_audio_education_programs/index.htm.
