About Us
The opening sequence for the URBAN IMAGE showcase was created through the collaboration of accomplished students and alumni of the Media Arts Department. The newly designed opening sequence for 2011 was created by Corey McNair (’10) and Jon Philip (’11). Some of the original images were shot on film by Clint Higgins ('06) and Michael Smythe ('06) and edited/animated by Clint Higgins. The new theme music was composed by Jon Philip.
Clint Higgins (cinematographer, editor, and title designer) graduated from the Media Arts Department in May 2006 and was awarded the prestigious Dr. Joseph Drew Award for Excellence in Media Production. His work has been screened at the Jersey City Museum, the Hoboken Historical Museum, and the Landmark Loew´s Jersey Theater in Jersey City, NJ. Clint was the videographer for the title sequence of Jane Steuerwald´s recent film "The Memory Box," screening at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) this November 2006. He worked as a production assistant and assistant camera on the acclaimed documentary "8-BIT" which premiered at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in October 2006. He is in great demand as a director of photography, sound recordist, videographer, and editor on film junkets and on independent film productions.
Michael Smythe (cinematographer) graduated from NJ City University in May 2006 and was chosen for the Dean´s List at NJ City University every semester. He served as a teaching assistant and as a video editing tutor in the Media Arts Department and was also a Professional Services Staff member responsible for instructing media students in the operation of film, video, lighting, and audio production equipment. Mike was chosen as the projectionist for the Black Maria Film and Video Festival final jurying weekend in December 2005, and as the projectionist for the premiere weekend screening at the Jersey City Museum in February 2006. He worked with award-winning filmmaker Joel Katz, on a documentary portrait of former NJ City University professor and Civil Rights activist, Lee Hagen. Mike currently works as a production assistant on feature film junkets, and at the Museum of Television and Radio, NYC.
Corey McNair was born and raised in Trenton, NJ. Growing up, Corey always dreamed of the day when he would work in the media industry. At the age of 17, he got his first internship at a radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - WRDW Wired 96.5FM. That experience encouraged him to further his education in the area of media. Corey enrolled in community college where he studied communication, speech and theater. Two years later, he transferred to New Jersey City University to major in Media Arts. Corey has interned at WRNB 107.9FM in Philadelphia, PA; at The Maury Povich Show in NYC; and at Power Play Production Studio in Newark, NJ. Corey will graduate with his BA in Media Arts in Spring 2011 and plans to start a career as a television personality.
Jon Philip is a senior Media Arts major at New Jersey City University and will graduate in the spring of 2011 with a BA in Media Arts. Jon is a writer, an actor, a poet, a filmmaker, and Hip-Hop producer. He is interested in screenwriting, directing, acting, and musical composition in film. Jon has performed all across New Jersey and New York, headlining at the Bowery Poetry Club, Margaret Williams Theatre, New Jersey City University, and Montclair State University. He has created and starred in many short films and music videos. Jon has also participated in internships with Cablevision and at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, and is one of the founders of NJCU’s own Gothic Knight Films. Gothic Knight Films is a student organization, created and run by Media Arts majors, who produce their own student films.
Jane Steuerwald (coordinator) has produced numerous experimental works in film and video including "Terrorist Activity Redux," Director´s Citation Award, Black Maria Film Festival, 2007. Her work includes "The Memory Box," Jury Selection – Black Maria Film Festival, (2006); MoMA, "Black Maria Film Festival: The Legacy of the Short Film." "The Memory Box" also at the NJ State Museum; Athens Film and Video Festival; Cape May Film Festival; Jersey City Museum; Fort Lee Museum; Red Saw Gallery, Newark; and the Hoboken Historical Museum. "Rocket Experts" (2002) MoMA´s Documentary Fortnight Festival; Athens International Film Festival; Fort Lee Film Commission; Cape May Film Festival. "Adventures in Nutrition" (2004) Collective Unconscious, NYC; Atlanta Film and Video Festival, and The Franklin Furnace, (1981). "Terrorist Activity" (1981) at The Kitchen and Meet the Artists at the Donnell Media Center. "I am driving in my car. I am walking up the hill." (2003) Asian-American International Film Festival; Anthology Film Archives; and the Asian Pacific American Film Festival. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Donnell Media Center. Jane Steuerwald served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Black Maria Film & Video Festival for many years. She has also served as a pre-screener for the Black Maria Festival and as a juror of film, video, and sound in 2007 for NJ State Council on the Arts/Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. Two Artist Fellowships from NJ State Council on the Arts, and many from the NJ Historical Commission and NJ City University. She has taught media production for twenty-nine years at NJ City University, and was named to Who´s Who in American Colleges and Universities - 2005.
URBAN IMAGE is grateful for the generous support from Jo Bruno, Esquire, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, NJCU; Dr. Barbara Feldman, Dean of the William J. Maxwell College of Arts and Sciences, NJCU; Roddy Bogawa, Chair, Media Arts Department, NJCU; James Wallace, Associate Director, Media Arts Department, NJCU; Robert Foster, Executive Director, Hoboken Historical Museum; Marilyn Consulmagno, Media Arts Department, NJCU; Tom Gannon, Technical Services, Media Arts Department, NJCU; Ellen Wayman-Gordon, Public Information, NJCU; Kelly Resch, Public Information, NJCU; Jason Roque, Technical Services Staff, Media Arts Department, NJCU.