APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and highly motivated to learn digital filmmaking while traveling with a group of students from diverse backgrounds.

Students must have the self-discipline to work independently from home during the first 3 weeks of pre-production and the last 3 weeks of post-production. Each student must have their own home computer and video camera in order to participate in the program (students are encouraged to bring their laptops on the filmmaking trip, but laptops are not required).

Due to international travel, students are required to have a current passport valid to 2009, as well as, a drivers license or birth certificate.

Tuition and Travel Fees

Total Fees for Tuition and Travel: $18,000

$5,500 - Tuition for 12 weeks of instruction
Includes one-on-one and group instruction, "hands-on" workshops, online training, and award-winning curriculum materials and textbooks.

$12,500 - 6 week Travel Package (All-Inclusive)

All-inclusive travel package includes: round-trip airfare from NYC to Ghana, South Africa, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Costa Rica; all ground transportation with baggage handling and transfers; all hotel and sleeping accommodations; all meals and gratuities; extensive travel insurance (see details below); and digital video production costs that include "on-location" filming expenses for video interviews, 2-way radios, special events, plane and helicopter rentals for aerial photography, and additional filmmaking equipment (lenses, lights, tripods, batteries, laptops, dvd burners, portable hard drives, underwater camera housings, blank videotapes, and blank CDs/DVDs).

Not included in the travel package: transportation between students' home and NYC; food and beverages not included in group meals; deviations from the scheduled trip; laundry or room service; telephone charges or other items of a personal nature.

Please note that for students who would like single room accommodations in Ghana, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand, Tahiti, and NYC there is an additional fee of $2000. Single rooms will not be available on the Safari in South Africa or during the final week in Costa Rica.

How to Apply to Semester-in-the-Air:

Step 1 - Apply online to be considered for acceptance.

Step 2 - If application is approved, a phone interview will be scheduled with you to determine final acceptance.

Step 3 - Upon acceptance into the program, a $1000 deposit will be required to reserve your space. Full payment for the program is required 60 days before the semester begins.

15 Students will be accepted for each semester.

Please select the semester you wish to apply to below:

Spring 2008 February 13 to May 12
Filmmaking trip
March 6 to April 19

Summer 2008 June 5 to September 1
Filmmaking trip
June 26 to August 9

Fall 2008 September 18 to December 15
Filmmaking trip
October 9 to November 22

Important Information

Digital Video Camera and Computer

Students must own, rent or purchase their own digital video camera and computer with software for video editing.

We recommend Canon DV camcorders, however, any DV camcorder will do the job. We recommend Apple or Dell laptops, however, any computer with adequate video editing capability will do fine.

Required software includes:
- Final Cut Express or Final Cut Pro for Mac
- Adobe Premiere Pro for PC
(PC users may want to also check out Avid Express or Avid Free DV)

Recommended (optional) software for web production includes:
- Adobe Photoshop, DreamWeaver,
& Cleaner 6(Mac) or Cleaner XL(PC)

Students are encouraged to bring their laptops if they own one. The School can also provide excellent recommendations regarding hardware rentals/purchases.
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Scholarships

The Pritchard School of Digital Arts provides three $1000 scholarships each semester to students who demonstrate exceptional talent for digital filmmaking. Students can apply for a scholarship as soon as they have been accepted into the Semester-in-the-Air program. Students will be selected based on academic history, communication skills, creativity and letters of recommendation.
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Travel Insurance from Travel Guard

The Travel Protection Plan has been selected for the Semester-in-the-Air program and Travel Guard International is America's leading travel insurance company insuring more than 4 million travelers each year.

The Travel Guard policy includes the following insurance coverage:

Trip Cancellation: Protects your travel investment if you cancel your trip for a covered reason.

Trip Interruption: Protects your travel investment if you interrupt your trip for a covered reason.

$1,000: Travel Delay Reimburses you up to $200 a day for additional accommodations or travel expenses if you are delayed for more than 6 hours.

$1,000: Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Baggage & Travel Documents reimburses you if your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while you are on your trip.

$200: Baggage Delay Reimburses you for the purchase of essential items if your bags are delayed for more than 24 hours.

$10,000: Medical Expenses Covers necessary medical expenses up to one year after the sickness or injury, provided you sought initial medical treatment while on your trip.

$20,000: Emergency Medical Transportation Covers evacuation and transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility.

- 24-Hour Medical Assistance - Includes physician monitoring, medical evacuation arrangements, emergency medical payments, prescription assistance, transportation of dependents, family visit, and transporation of mortal remains.

- 24-Hour Legal Assistance - Includes referral to a local legal advisor and advance of funds for bail and legal fees.

In addition, Travel Guard provides a 24-hour "911" travel emergency service for emergency medical assistance and toll-free assistant services for passport replacement, emergency messaging, emergency cash advance and bail bond assistance.

Upon acceptance into the program, students will fill out the Travel Guard policy information and may elect additional coverage if desired.
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If you have any questions or feedback
please contact us at:
feedback@pritchardschool.com


Please note:
The information on this web site is prepared well in advance of departure dates. Due to the nature of the programs we provide, dates, hotels, modes of transportation, and in some cases, itineraries change. If this does occur, we will attempt to provide similar facilities but are not always able to do so. We appreciate your understanding.


©2006 Pritchard School of Digital Arts. All Rights Reserved.