BEFORE TIME/AFTER TIME: All of the Stories In This Film Were Lived and Written By The Ensemble Against a backdrop of a blue sky and white clouds, a square of nine photos of the members of the ensemble that feature in the film: Richard Paul, Betsy Ramos, Donte Shearin, Daniel Kelly, Chermaine Black, Wanda Valez, Miss Sparks, Naquasia Pollard, and Rafael Almeyda.

PMA Professor Bruce Levitt’s Collaborative Film to Screen During Abolitionist Futures Series

Before Time / After Time, a film collaboratively devised by PMA Professor Bruce Levitt, will screen virtually as part of the Prison Library Support Network’s Abolitionist Futures Series on March 10, from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. The screening will be following by a discussion with the creative team and ensemble members. The film was facilitated by project leaders Levitt, Shaun Leonardo and multidisciplinary visual artist and journalist Isaac I. Scott, who led an art workshop at PMA in Spring 2024.

No Sabo: A comedic solo-ish show by Christopher Moncayo-Torres, guest starring Christopher’s dad (Abel Torres) (yes, really) Christopher and his dad Abel hugging on a stage surrounded by boxes and small objects on the floor.

Creating Conversations Presents “NO SABO,” A Fringe Artists Performance Event

Join PMA and the Cornell Student Create Club for Creating Conversations: A Fringe Artists Performance Event. This event series will feature award-winning artist Christopher Moncayo Torres’s solo-ish show NO SABO and will take place on Thursday, February 27, at 7:30 PM in the Black Box Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.

Mendi + Keith Obadike headshot

PMA Professor Mendi Obadike to Speak on “Music as Monument” Panel

PMA Professor Mendi Obadike and AAP Professor Keith Obadike will participate in a virtual webinar panel called “Music as Monument” as part of the Monument Lab’s Public Workshop series. The event will take place on Wednesday, February 12, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. EST on Zoom.

Bill Fontana headshot

Sound Artist Bill Fontana to Visit PMA Professor Mendi Obadike’s Class

Renowned sound artist Bill Fontana will visit the class PMA 3104/5104: Sound, Music, and Public Space -- an interdisciplinary course taught by PMA Professor Mendi Obadike and AAP Professor Keith Obadike -- on Feb 5 at 12:15 pm. Please contact Mendi Obadike at mlo72@cornell.edu for the Zoom link if you would like to attend.

Two people wearing fashionable red, white and black winter clothing sit back to back on a large rock, each holding a book. They are surrounded by snow

Your January 2025 reads

This month’s featured titles – most by A&S authors – include a work of nonfiction about honeybees, a kids’ picture book, and a novel set in rural Nova Scotia.

John Cameron Mitchell headshot

PMA Presents: An Evening with John Cameron Mitchell, Carol B. Epstein Guest Artist

Join the Department of Performing and Media Arts for an Evening with John Cameron Mitchell, Carol B. Epstein Guest Artist. The event will take place on Friday, March 7, at 6:30 PM in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. The evening will feature a talkback conversation, moderated by PMA Professor Nick Salvato. Mitchell will also be participating in a masterclass with PMA students.

Samantha Sheppard headshot

Chats with the Chair

"Chats with the Chair" invites PMA majors, minors, and those interested in the department to join the chair for food and fellowship.

Festival 24, An evening of original 15-minute works, free of charge, full house expected, arrive early to secure your seat

Festival 24 returns January 25

Join the Department of Performing and Media Arts on Saturday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Class of '56 Dance Studio Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.

Projects & Participation Kick Off All Students are welcome

Projects & Participation Kick-off Spring 2025

Join us for an exciting general information session where you can explore various ways to participate in PMA's live and mediated productions. Meet passionate directors and filmmakers who will share insights about their projects and casting requirements.

Rejoice Abutsa headshot

PMA Ph.D. Student Rejoice Abutsa Publishes Book Review in the Journal of the African Literature Association

PMA Ph.D. student, writer, and film producer, Rejoice Abutsa has published a book review in the Journal of the African Literature Association, alongside other leading scholars in the field, Matthew H. Brown, Ying Cheng, Alessandro Jedlowski, Stephanie Newell, and Paul Ugor. The subject of the review is the book Lagos Never Spoils: Nollywood and Nigerian City Life, written by Connor Ryan, from University of Michigan Press.

assistant professor of the practice, Danielle Russo (left) and visiting lecturer Olive Prince (right)

PMA Podcast Episode 63 - Share In / Share Out

In this episode, we welcome engineering major and film minor, Jessie Jia as a co-host on the show, Jessie and Chris Christensen met with assistant professor of the practice, Danielle Russo and visiting lecturer Olive Prince, to explore the many aspects of PMA's upcoming dance event. Share In / Share Out, end of semester PMA dance showcase. Share In / Share Out, is a showcase of predominantly student devised dance works, specifically featuring Cornellians in the PMA dance studio courses this semester. This compilation of projects and portfolios is a part of MOVING FORWARD, new futurism in installation, intermedia, interactive and immersive dance.

A few dozen people stand in front of a movie screen

Town-Gown awardees foster business, community, sustainability

Partnerships aiming to minimize construction waste in Central New York, address isolation and cognitive loss through performance, and promote and nurture local startups received the annual Cornell Town-Gown Awards, announced Nov. 16 at Cinemapolis.

An illustration of a crankable camera, a director’s chair, and a few popcorn kernels against a green background.

Student Film Screening

Join the Department of Performing and Media Arts for the Student Film Screening, on Friday, December 13, at 5:00 p.m., in the Kiplinger Theatre, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. The Student Film Screening will feature unique, empathetic, and collaborative works from students in PMA 3570: Film and Video Production I, PMA 3571: Documentary Filmmaking, PMA 3580: Cinematography and Visual Storytelling, and PMA 1410: Media Production Laboratory.

Student dancer Taylor Janeen Pryor stepping forward with her back leg bent, reaching down towards the floor on a stage against a black background. Image by Thomas Hoebbel Photography, featuring Taylor Janeen Pryor in “This Table Has Been a House in the Rain.”

Share In / Share Out: End-of-Semester PMA Dance Showcase

Join the Department of Performing and Media Arts for Share In / Share Out: End-of-Semester PMA Dance Showcase. The showcase will take place in the Class of ’56 Dance Studio Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, on Friday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. and on Saturday, December 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Both performances are free and open to the public. Get your free tickets at pma.cornell.edu/tickets.

four people on a minimally set stage

New Feldshuh play premieres Nov. 1 at Schwartz Center

“Orlando’s Gift,” a new play written and directed by David Feldshuh, professor of performing and media arts, and inspired by Virginia Woolf’s novel “Orlando,” will premiere Nov. 1 at the Schwartz Center.

Orlando's Gift

PMA Podcast Episode 62 - Orlando's Gift

In this episode we take a deep dive into PMA’s upcoming production of “Orlando’s Gift” written and directed by Professor David Feldshuh. On rare occasion we take a different approach with an episode, remove the standard back and forth conversation, and capture a poetic narrative from our guest. Please take a moment to sit back, relax, and enjoy the words of David Feldshuh as he describes his upcoming production from its inception to present.

Book cover: Short Film Screen Writing

Short film screenwriting: a high-wire act of abbreviation

In his new book, filmmaker Austin Bunn delves into the mechanics of the short form by reprinting notable scripts and interviewing the films’ creators, as well as providing insights and advice based on his own screenwriting career.

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