Community

Filmmaking is a collaborative art. It requires that students know how to interact with those around them in order to achieve a common goal. An understanding and interaction with the community at CCCA, Grand Rapids, and the filmmaking community as a whole, is vitally important to both the artistic and vocational formation of the each student. To that end, the Student Services Coordinator plans activities and provides information for services that give students the opportunity to exercise this discipline.

How do I get in touch with my fellow classmates?

Each student has a Compass email account, which they are responsible for viewing daily. Cohorts have their own group email for official communication, such as sending out call sheets, asking for a ride to class, inquiring about meeting times, etc. There is also a Facebook group for unofficial purposes such as links, videos, pictures, and general social communication.

What kinds of community activities do student attend during the year?

Community activities that students attend fall into three different categories.

Vocational Activities:
It is important for students to be exposured to the film world, not only in Hollywood, but also in their local community. Meeting and visiting local filmmakers and seeing their facilities helps to give a sense of the local filmmaking landscape, which can better equip you to make decisions about your future post-graduation.
We also have film-viewing events, exclusive Compass screenings, and bad movie nights that are there for fun and to enhance and develop your cinematic vocabulary.
In addition, there is a writing group that is run by Compass alumni and instructors (it’s open to anyone) where scripts not only undergo workshop critique but also are produced by the members of the writing group on a periodic basis.

Recreational Activities:
CCCA’s 14-month program is an intense experience and thus it's nice to do something outside of school that has nothing to do with movies. Past activities have included trips to local sporting events, picnics and BBQs, and other locally oriented events. Often there are activities going on downtown Grand Rapids in Rosa Parks Circle, and the local music and art scene are the envy of other larger Michigan cities.

Outreach Activities:
In addition to providing great short student films, Compass is a member of the Grand Rapids community as a whole and continually looks for ways to enhance the community. While participation is not required, we do feel that it is essential to the development of the artist to interact with their environment and to give of themselves to the community of which they are a part.