Chicago media academy program popular with suburban students
By Kerry Lester | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 7/10/2009 1:12 PM | Updated: 7/10/2009 1:16 PM
Like many kids, Marc Barrowclifft has had a number of different aspirations as he's grown up.
The St. Charles native dreamed of being an astronaut. A magician. A comic book writer.
At the age of 17, he says he's found his calling: game design.
A weeklong summer camp at Chicago's Flashpoint Academy is what sold him.
The two-year digital media college, which draws more than half of its 450 students from the Chicago suburbs, offers programs in recording arts, visual effects and animation, computer game development, film and broadcast media.
For the first time this summer, it has offered summer institute sessions for high school students.
College officials say the move wasn't economy driven.
The problem with many of these kids is they don't know where to go for these industries. College officials say they're using the program as a recruitment tool.
"Doing the institute was setting the fire. The spark, so they can understand how dynamic these careers can be. The back end of that is, we'd certainly love to have them be students here," said Barb Pollack, executive vice president at the academy. A total of 20 students took part in the in the first session, studying film production, studio recording, animation and game design. A second session will start July 13. If there is enough interest, the college will consider adding a third session in August, Pollack said.
Barrowclifft, who took the Metra to and from St. Charles each day, said he and five other students spent the week learning both the mechanics and strategy behind game design.
"We used papers and calculators and prototypes to get an actual game down, to make sure it wasn't too boring," he said.
"Then as the days went on we started to work software, and with an actual game engine."
In recording arts professor Bernie Mack's class, the goal was to have students produce, record and mix a CD by the end of the week.
A Chicago-based group named Sugar Pusher came in and performed as the students recorded.
"This was a first time experience for me," Elgin High School senior Fernando Amezquita said.
Amezquita said the institute has piqued his interest in helping out with plays and musicals at Elgin High next year.
Barrowclifft said the experience is making him consider attending the school in lieu of a 4-year college.
"They get rid of all the other classes, and teach you only what you're going to be doing at your job," he said, "which I think is really cool."
However, he admitted, he might have to work on his parents a little bit first.