Channel H launched its Media Studies curriculum early this Summer with a two-day field trip/film shoot at Tiffen Inc. in Hauppauge NY. Mr. and Mrs. Mosco, Mr. Then and 8 members of Channel H shot two full days of coverage in HD alongside the run and gun crew of 2nd Unit TV. William Hernandez '08 interviewed the CEO of Tiffen. The crew filmed a full factory tour! The film is now in editing alongside a behind-the-scenes "making of" documentary showing how the collaboration came about and the students first experience with proffesional grade film equipment, lighting, etc..

Here is the Press Release:

As the Internet continues to knit together distant communities bridging thousands of miles with the click of a mouse, Cardinal Hayes High School has become the first to directly bridge New York education with Hollywood knowledge. Through a unique partnership forged between the Bronx’s Cardinal Hayes High School and Los Angeles-based 2nd-Unit Productions, eight of its students, teachers and staff start the academic year a few weeks early as they go well-beyond learning the methodologies to employing them; methodologies which have made people like 6-time Emmy Award winning and past president of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) George Spiro Dibie, “24” Cinematographer Rodney Charters and “The Unit’s” Director Rao Krishna leaders in their fields. On August 6th and 7th, Cardinal Hayes High School media students will formally step into the role of cast and crew shooting the first three episodes for 2nd Unit Television’s 3rd Season. They will be looking at the importance of light filtration in motion picture and television production and the difference quality optics make in the results.

In using independent filmmakers to produce the 30-some episodes the company has shot from stages like “The Unit”, “The Office”, “24” and others, we afford them the hands-on opportunity to shoot on sets that would be otherwise unavailable to them. The idea though has been to expand those opportunities to the student world in an effort to assure that those same methodologies of fine filmmaking that simply can’t be reproduced technologically would continue on through tomorrow’s filmmakers.” Jonathan Ames, Executive Producer of 2nd Unit said in a telephone interview today. “Recently, Cardinal Hayes  High School’s Frank Mosco - Director of Technology and Media Services found and reached out to me and in the ensuing discussions, we discovered that we both shared the same passion for education, youth filmmaking and technology which made for a perfect partnership in 2nd Unit’s next step. So when we scheduled a 2-day shoot at Tiffen to cover the mechanics and the physics behind image alteration via filtration, it was the perfect opportunity for both of us to formalize the relationship.” he concluded.

In commenting on the partnership, Christopher Keogan, Principal of Cardinal Hayes High School noted that, “Our school has long been known for encouraging unique talents and fostering self-development”, a well-established tradition echoing the institution’s Mission Statement, Philosophy and canonical commitment to “seek[ing] to inspire students to strive for personal excellence and responsible citizenship… through academics, extra-curricular activities, discipline and spiritual growth.” as stated on the web site. School President Fr. Joseph Tierney added that, “With noted alumnus that include Martin Scorsese and Regis Philbin, both actively involved both personally and financially in supporting the institution, there’s little doubt that the school provides fertile grounds for both excellence and imagination”, both pre-requisites to a successful filmmaking career. Finally, noting the tremendous progress being made in assuring that the venerable institution remains as a forward-thinking as it is firmly grounded in established, ethical principles, Frank Mosco closed by noting that, “The school is currently in the midst of building the Martin Scorsese Media Center with the help of well known studio architect John Storyk; an undertaking that will leave the institution with nothing less than state-of-the-art facilities proactively preparing our students for the new and evolving world of cross-media. At Cardinal Hayes, we aspire to be as self-sufficient as possible and guide our students to find the leader in themselves. At the same time, Sony, HBO and Tiffen have already committed to the educational enterprise, and we hope that their leadership will prompt other entertainment industry corporations to lend their support to the education of our next generation of filmmaker. This summer we were fortunate to have a recent 2003 grad, Mr. Steven Then lend his media and technology expertise to the undertaking and even my wife has stepped in to help with this amazing opportunity. So from alums like Mr. Scorsese, Mr. Philbin and Mr. Then through staff, students, and to myself and my own beloved family, as the Jane Cowen-Fletcher novel so aptly noted in 1994, it truly does take a village to raise a child.”

Tiffen has been a leading manufacturer and supplier of photographic filters and lens accessories for the consumer/professional imaging and the motion picture and broadcast television industries for almost 70 years.

The company has a rich history of innovative product design, superior optical consistency and unparalleled quality. Tiffen has been recognized for its product and engineering excellence earning two Technical Achievement Awards and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as well as an Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Today, the company offers a wide range of products from its divisions, which include: Consumer, Motion Picture and Television, Digital, Tripods and Support Systems.

The company's Special Effects filters, once an exclusive of the Motion Picture and Television industry are now available to still photographers and videographers through the Tiffen Hollywood F/X filter line.

Tiffen continues to enhance its reputation as a leading accessory manufacturer through aggressive growth in the image making accessory industry.

The Company has also expanded into a high-tech line of support products called Steadicam® Camera Stabilizing Systems. Tiffen, working together with Steadicam Inventor, Garrett Brown, has acquired the technology to manufacture and distribute Steadicam Camera Stabilizing Systems. Over the last three decades, Steadicam has been an invaluable dynamic production tool in the industry. Tiffen now offers a complete line of state-of-the-art Steadicam models to meet the needs of the film and video industry. By liberating the camera from its constraints, the Steadicam was able to move with the operator in a continuous motion, alleviating the need for tripods, cranes and dollies. This innovative technology was recognized with an Oscar, an Emmy, the Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award of the BANFF Television Festival, the Star 2005 TV Technology award, the 2006 Cherry Pickers Award, the 2006 CES Innovations Award and many more.

Pictures of this event can be viewed here. Check back for updates of the footage soon!!

President: Father Joseph Tierney
Principal: Mr. Christopher Keogan