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SINGAPORE: New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, a leading film school in the world, is opening its campus here in Singapore this September.
And the good news for those who think the S$55,000 annual school fees are steep - the school is raising funds to offer scholarships to its students.
The Tisch School of the Arts was courted by HongKong, India and Shanghai, but the world-famous school chose to open a campus in Singapore, it's first outside New York.
36 students will begin their masters in fine arts programme here this September.
The school had received 300 applications for these 36 places and half the applicants were Americans.
Courses here will be taught by an international line-up of professionals, including some famous names like actor Alec Baldwin, director Spike Lee, and Brett Ratner, who directed the movie Rush Hour.
"In the coming years, we plan to add writing, animation, and perhaps interactive technology. That's what we have planned to roll out over the next three to five years, if all goes well…I think we will be open to bringing in some of the performing arts as well," says Dr Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean, Tisch School of the Arts, Associate Provost, Arts, New York University.
By 2012, Tisch expects to have an enrollment of 258 students, 70 per cent of whom are non-Singaporeans.
Tisch students will be required to produce dozens of films every year and the school says there is a good chance these films will be selected for international film festivals like Sundance and the Cannes film festival.
And to cynics who find it hard to believe that Singapore can have a blossoming film industry, Tisch says it is just a matter of time.
"I think you'll be surprised at how quickly the landscape can change. I remember in 2001, I was invited to Mexico city to be part of a conversation about trying to revive Mexican film industry. In the course of three or four years, some of the most exciting film makers in the world were coming from Mexico. I think this could happen very quickly when there is a will and certainly Singapore has a will…and we think of ourselves as the coal and the energy that will fuel that growth, " says an excited Dr Schmidt Campbell.
When asked if Singapore's censorship of some films may be a problem, Tisch says their students run into trouble with the New York authorities too, and the school believes in fully communicating with authorities.
Ms Jennie Chua, Chief Strategic Officer of Capitaland, and Chairman of the Singapore Film Commission sits on Tisch Asia's Board of Directors. - CNA/yy
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