Radio Uprising
Radio Uprising is The Art Effect’s exciting weekly youth radio show that gives young producers the opportunity to express themselves creatively via the airwaves, developing next generation newsmakers and covering youth issues in Poughkeepsie, NY. In a weekly hour-long live broadcast on 91.3fm WVKR at Vassar College, middle and high school age students engage in on-air discussion of politics, social action, current events, and personal experience. Each week, Radio Uprising features a rotating lineup of youth DJs and radio hosts.
Tune in to 91.3fm on Thursdays from 4-5pm EST or visit the live stream on www.wvkr.org
Skills
The Art Effect’s Radio Uprising program supports and grows the next generation of journalists and newsmakers through hands-on learning in media literacy and production skills. Young people who participate in Radio Uprising gain a diverse skill set in:
- audio recording
- audio editing
- public speaking
- critical thinking
- interviewing
- journalism
- field recording
To learn more about audio recording, editing and video journalism visit Spark Studios.
Apply to be a youth DJ or radio host! E-mail maryellen@thearteffect.org or call 845.471.7477 to set up an interview.
History
Radio Uprising, a weekly radio show on Vassar College’s WVKR station, has been broadcasting for over thirteen years. Since May 2008, Radio Uprising has provided a public platform for young people to express themselves and their opinions on a variety of hard-hitting topics. Radio Uprising youth have interviewed and partnered with local organizations in Poughkeepsie such as the Poughkeepsie Journal, Planned Parenthood, and Grace Smith House.
They have also featured work from other youth radio producers from around the country including Blunt Youth Radio Project, Global Action Project, the Bay Area Video Coalition, Radio Rootz, and Reel Grrls. Radio show topics include:
- Covid-19 and quarantine
- fake news
- black lives matter
- technology’s impact on youth
- Immigration
- Mental health and depression
- Gun violence
- Teen rebellion
- Student debt and college loans
- Sex
- Religion
Listen to the full list of past podcasts HERE.
Radio Uprising is a partnership with WVKR and Vassar College which has received past support from the Jane Nuhn Charitable Trust.
Forge Media
Forge Media employs emerging filmmakers ages 16-25 to work alongside experienced producers creating video content that stands out from the crowd and brings clients’ concepts to life. This next generation of videographers gain valuable experience in professional film production, build their portfolios, further develop their skills, and expand their relationships in the film industry.
Forge Media’s Impact
Forge Media’s youth apprenticeship program is the first of its kind in the Hudson Valley. Young, aspiring filmmakers who excel in the Spark Studios program gain client-based work experience, further develop their filmmaking skills using professional-level equipment and technology, and build both their portfolios and professional relationships.
All proceeds from Forge Media support our apprentices through this creative media mentorship program. Competition in the world of media is tough, and opportunities for emerging filmmakers can be hard to come by. Forge provides young filmmakers and producers with those opportunities, giving them an edge as they continue on the path towards becoming media industry leaders. Learn more about the services Forge Media offers at ForgeMedia.org
To book a Forge Media production, e-mail Paul@thearteffect.org
Experience
Youth working with Forge Media are often referred through Spark Studios or have worked with The Art Effect as a film and media intern and excelled within their program. At Forge Media, young filmmakers work on professional film sets throughout the Hudson Valley gaining experience as an assistant director or production assistant in:
- Boom Operation
- Sound Mixing
- Camera Operating
- Grip and Gaffer
- Editing
- Writing
Clients
Recent clients of Forge Media include:
(Click links for videos)
- The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie
- Poughkeepsie Farm Project
- Scenic Hudson
- ARC of Dutchess
- Arts Mid-Hudson
- Day One
- The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Athena Awards live stream
- Mental Health America
- Live production for Sustainable Hudson Valley ‘s Regional Symposium on Climate Change.
- Hudson Valley Gospel Festival
- Grace Smith House
- Boy Scouts of America
- Beavertides Farm
- Education, Dorsky Museum’s 20th Anniversary
- Healthy Relationship Time, Family Services
- The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and the Dutchess County Task Force Against Human Trafficking
- Guardian Storage
- Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley
- Hudson River Housing
- Dutchess County Department of Community and Behavioral health
- Checklist Mom, Hudson Valley Parent Magazine
Spark Studios
Spark Studios teaches film and media arts to empower youth’s voices, build workforce development skills, provide paid work experience, and help students get on a path to college and career success. Youth in Spark Studios learn filmmaking, photography, digital media production, and create media projects in teams and for community clients.
Spark Studios prepares young people for entry into the Art Institute where they can develop a college film or photography portfolio as well as become employable in a competitive media workforce, including The Art Effect’s advanced program Forge Media.
Spark Studios runs in the fall, spring and summer and offers intensives in the winter.
Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, 8 North Cherry Street, Third Floor, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Creative Filmmaking and Workforce Training
- Explore cutting-edge media production techniques
- Artistic and technical skill building to create creative short films
- Student produced original media productions
- Industry exposure
- Develop skills, attitude, and competency for college
- Intermediate-level youth program skills for entry into the Art Institute (to prepare college film portfolios)
Clients and Partners
Clients and partners that have worked with Spark Studios recently include Scenic Hudson, Walkway Over the Hudson, Arts Mid Hudson, Poet Gold + POUGHetry Festival, Poughkeepsie City School District, Black Excellence Community, Cary Institute, Engaged Pluralism Initiative, and Hudson River Housing, Dutchess County, Family Services, among others.
Support Spark Studios youth — Contact us to partner on a client project!
Creative Filmmaking and Workforce Training Skills
Youth enrolled in Spark Studios gain experience and acquire skills in:
- photography and digital editing
- videography and video editing
- lighting
- audio mixing
- creating public service announcements
- scriptwriting and creative short films
- documentaries
- animation and stop-motion
- financial literacy and time management skill development
- develop community connections and interpersonal skills
- media portfolio development
History
Spark Studios, formerly known as Media Magic & DROP TV, has been a place for youth to express themselves in video and photos for decades. DROP TV (which stood for Direct Revolution of Programming) began as a summer youth employment program in 1996 focused on producing video segments for episodes of the DROP TV youth television series which aired on CableVision. In 2012, the program was extended to an after school filmmaking program, Media Magic. Students participating in Media Magic created incredible short-form video content in collaboration with community partners.
Students of Spark Studios have gone on to work as crew members in the film industry including Hudsy, HBO, and have also become entrepreneurs.
Awards and Recognition
Many of the short films created by youth during Spark Studios win entries and awards at film festivals around the world. Click on any of the film names below and take a peek!
“The Edge” won an award at the Wildcat Spirit Film Festival and at the Lower Hudson Media Arts Show. The film was also a finalist at the Reel Exposure Teen Film and Photography Festival. The film was also selected for Newark IFF Youth Festival, The Lift-Off Sessions and First-Time Filmmaker Sessions.
“The Lock Down” won an award at the Wildcat Spirit Film Festival and at the Lower Hudson Media Arts Show and was a finalist at the Reel Exposure Teen Film and Photography Festival. It was also selected at The Lift-Off Sessions and First-Time Filmmaker Sessions.
“Santa Woman” has won awards at the Tribeca Film Institute’s “The America I Am” Competition – Best Collaborative Film, The Rockland County Film Festival, Award Winner Reel Expressions Teen Film Festival 2017, 2nd Place The Chocolate City International Short Film Festival in Wisconsin, and was a semi-familist at the Newark IFF Youth Festival.
“The Art of Loss” won at the Lower Hudson Media Arts Show.
“The Problems We Share” was selected for the Reel Exposure Teen Film and Photography Festival.
“Here’s A Toast” won at the Lower Hudson Media Arts Show.
“If You Choose To Accept It” was selected for The Lift-Off Sessions and Reel Exposure Teen Film and Photography Festival.
“Nirvana” was a finalist at the Newark IFF Youth Festival and a selection at The Lift-Off Sessions and First-Time Filmmaker Sessions.
“The Written and “E+MC Scared” were selected for The 9th International Children’s Film Festival.
“A Problem” was selected for the Reel Exposure Teen Film and Photography Festival, Dances with Films, and Central Illinois Feminist Film Festival.
“DaVinci Jackson – Someday” was selected for The Lift-Off Sessions, First-Time Filmmaker Sessions and Newark IFF Youth Festival.
“Freemium” was selected for The Lift-Off Sessions, Super International Teenager Film Festival and First-Time Filmmaker Sessions.
The Art Effect partners with local organizations to host panel discussions, screenings, and events that highlight the incredible work produced by Spark Studios youth including The International Reel Exposure Teen Film and Photo Festival and in 2019, Spark Studios worked with the City of Poughkeepsie to organize a public screening of Spark Studios films with a local HBO production team who provided feedback on youth films.
Teachers and Program Staff
Paul Thompson, Associate Director of Media Workforce Programs, is the director of Spark Studios and lead teacher. He has actively worked in the film industry since graduating from The College of Saint Rose with a BA in broadcast media and film. Paul has produced web commercials, creative shorts, and short documentaries for Hudson Valley businesses and organizations, including the Westchester Library System. Paul also has experience as an employment specialist for Ability Beyond, where he was responsible for providing individuals with disabilities the necessary skills to obtain and maintain employment. Paul has used his degree, as well as his experience in human services and video production since 2015, to help create a growing, creative and expressive environment through Spark Studios working closely mentoring youth in our community. In Paul’s spare time, he enjoys going to food and film festivals.
Adam Reid joined The Art Effect in 2019 as a Youth Media Instructor, teaching video production, photography, and script writing. Adam graduated college with a MS in Arts & Sciences with a passion for video production that he discovered as a student at The Art Effect, Adam enjoys working with youth in the community encouraging them to try new things and become the best version of themselves.
This program is partially funded by monies received from Dutchess County, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the United Way of Dutchess County.
Additional grants for Spark Studios have been provided by City of Poughkeepsie youth grant Roe Fund/CFHV and The Dutchess County Department of Youth Services
