College of Arts & Letters  Department of Communication Studies Alan Bloom Professor Television, Film and Media Studies

Introduction Teaching Interests Professional/Creative Activities Recent Production Activities Educational Background Office Hours Schedule

Office: Music 251  Phone: (323) 343-4209 FAX: (818) 352-8817  Email: abloom@calstatela.edu INTRODUCTION I am a professor specializing in film and video production in the Television, Film and Media Studies program in the Department of Communication Studies . I have been a university professor for the last 34 years. I have been on the faculty here since 1981, with two years leave (82-84) to work as Program Director in charge of the Video Center at The American Film Institute . Prior to joining the faculty at CSLA I taught at Temple University in Philadelphia, West Virginia State College and California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. As a director, producer and/or writer I have made more than 280 films and video tapes in the last 42 years. TEACHING INTERESTS During my career I have taught a wide range of film and video production and studies classes at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. I enjoy teaching film and video production in a variety of creative environments. I seek out unique learning situations at every opportunity and for the past 15 years I have been involved with the CSU Summer Arts program , first at Cal Poly SLO (86-87), then at Humboldt State (88-95), Cal State Long Beach (96-98) and Fresno State (2005). At Summer Arts we were able to create a one-of-a-kind high intensity hands-on workshop for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in professional 35mm motion picture production techniques. This groundbreaking program has attracted the sponsorship of major entertainment industry companies like Kodak, Fuji, Panavision, Sony, Warner Bros., Avid, Mole Richardson, Kino Flo, Chapman and Fotokem.  I integrate my production with my teaching. My crews are almost always made up of at least 80% students and former students. In this way I provide my advanced students with real world opportunities while at the same time giving them an opportunity to begin networking with professionals and former students already working in the field.  PROFESSIONAL/CREATIVE ACTIVITIES During the last three decades my work has been primarily documentaries and music videos. Through the documentaries I can explore things of interest to me (usually socio- political issues or developments in film and video production), the music videos allow me to have some fun with the medium while I set aesthetic challenges for myself.  Film is the most collaborative art form and requires the coordinated efforts of writers, cinematographers, directors, performers and others. My film and video works include substantial collaborative work with artists from theater, music and dance. I have created music video and dance works with artists like Bobby McFerrin and choreographer Peter Pucci. I have been fortunate to have worked with some wonderful artists including Edward James Olmos, John Wesley Harding, Kristin Hersh, LaVar Burton and Vilmos Zsigmond.  In my videos I focus on the quality of performance and a use of dreamlike spaces. Color and visual texture have always interested me. I have created documentaries on subjects ranging from the arts to public service and from health care to computer animation. In addition to my other projects I occasionally create public service campaigns promoting education and health. I am excited about the impact of new technologies on both education and entertainment and I currently working on several web based projects.

M.F.A. Television 1975, California College of Arts and Crafts (renamed California College of the Arts) , Oakland;
B.A.with Honors and Distinction in Art Studio/Filmmaking 1973, Sonoma State , Rohnert Park, CA;

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