Camosun program shutdown appals illustrious alumni
Iwas as stunned as many of you to learn Camosun College’s applied communication program was being axed after 40 years.
Arthur Rabin must be spinning in his grave — the New York-born producer’s passion for the program inspired the establishment of an annual scholarship in his name following his death at age 46 from heart failure 18 years ago.
The two-year program trains students in journalism, broadcasting, public relations and publishing. Its online radio station — Village 900 — is another casualty that’s so beloved, students recently occupied its offices in protest.
You can’t swing a boom mike in B.C., it seems, without hitting an ACP alumnus.
They’re everywhere, from local radio stations (The Zone’s Bryan Capistrano) and multi-media companies (Mediaone Multimedia’s Cody Graham) to movie sets.
“It’s quite a shock,” said Andrew Currie, the Victoria-raised filmmaker and ACP grad best known for Mile Zero and Fido, his zombie satire starring Billy Connolly.
“It started my career. The multi-disciplinary approach really opened me up creatively.”
Several grads say ACP gave them the foundation needed to write their own tickets.
One of its most attractive aspects is affordability. The average annual tuition for a full-time student in the program is $3,219, says Joan Yates, Camosun’s executive director for communications and advancement.
Grad David Malysheff, founder of Gamut Productions, calls it a great bargain. “[It] gives you a great background in communications, but you still have to carve our own destiny,” he says.
Malysheff, 54, was undercoating cars and had a passion for photography when he enrolled.
“I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t have to serve time in Lloydminister,” joked Malysheff, who worked at CKDA and CFMS radio here before graduating to CHEK-TV and commercial production.
The prolific filmmaker started Pan Video Productions in 1986 and shot electronic press kits for films like Spooky House and Fierce People before directing personal projects like The Immortal Beaver, his aerial documentary featuring Harrison Ford.
Dave Wallace, founder of Innovative Imageworks multi-media company, said it’s “a travesty” that ACP is closing.
“Not everyone has $60,000 to go to Vancouver Film School,” said the 23-year-old scholarship winner, whose gigs include shooting music videos for Vince Vaccaro and JP Maurice.
“It was my only postsecondary option. I wasn’t a math or science guy.”
Talitha Cummins, 31, was an event promoter until ACP inspired her to become a film producer. Her latest project, Joanna Makes a Friend, will be shown at Cannes Film Festival this month.
“It makes you very adaptable,” Cummins said. “I’ve worked as a video editor and I can produce, direct and even light things.”
It seems ludicrous, especially amid a social media revolution, that a provincial education funding freeze would prompt Camosun to cut a program for students in such a growth industry.
Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto’s recent “Do we need communications people in B.C.?” comment didn’t help, except to increase chances of a brain drain. Neither did her suggestion that there must be other institutions offering such programs.
“It’s apples and oranges,” says David Leach, a University of Victoria associate professor and director of professional writing, who notes that while Uvic offers a minor in writing and will soon launch one in film production, Camosun’s program is unique.
“I think it’s an insane decision to close this particular program if the province intends to compete in a creative knowledge economy,” he said.
While protesters are upset about the lack of consultation, second-year student Carol-lynne Michaels says they aren’t at war with the administration.
Meetings with president Kathryn Laurin have reportedly been respectful.
“We all know the government isn’t funding anything,” said the local socialmedia powerhouse and community organizer. “We don’t want them to feel cornered. We’re empathetic.”
Yates says Camosun understands the concerns.
“We’ve tried to mitigate the fallout as much as we can,” she said, noting first-year students will be able to complete the program. timescolonist.com/arts