TV & Film Academy
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The Hurrah Players is excited to announce that, as part of our 40th Season, we will be launching The Nusbaum Family TV & Film Academy in January, 2025. The Nusbaum Family TV & Film Academy will operate as a complement to our Hugh R. Copeland Performing Arts Academy. Expanding into the TV & Film industries was a natural direction of growth for The Hurrah Players. The TV & Film Academy will be the first television and film academy which is targeted at educating youth in Hampton Roads! Located in the heart of Norfolk, Virginia, The Nusbaum Television and Film Academy is more than just a school; it’s a launchpad for aspiring television and film professionals. We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of storytellers by providing them with the skills and experiences needed to thrive in the industry. Designed specifically for middle and high school students, our academy offers a comprehensive and fun curriculum that blends creative development with technical expertise, ensuring a well-rounded and diverse education in the arts of television and film production.
HTVFA Mission Statement
Curriculum
Lights, Camera, Action!
Where you can learn all of the aspects of producing a professional quality film.
iFilm Makers
Where you can explore more advanced techniques of using the iPhone as a professional filmmaking tool and dive deeper into its unique capabilities.
Pixel Perfect Photography
Where you can learn how the basics of Photography that you can ultimately apply to a film production
Broadcast Bootcamp
Create films on various topics and combine into a monthly Broadcast for the Community
State-of-the-Art Facilities
We offer a 30’ x 30’ professional-grade studio, overhead lighting grid, control room, two 4K professional pedestal cameras, green screen, 11 editing suites, professional camera and lighting kits for students, sound booth, changing/makeup room, kitchen and a green room for visitors, guests and industry partners who can use our studio.
Industry Partnerships
We’ll offer collaborations with area college media departments, TV, news, and marketing studios for students to observe productions, ask questions, and make professional connections. Guest lectures and workshops with directors, editors, actors, screenwriters, and technicians.
Extracurricular Activities
Film clubs and social gatherings where students can share their passion for cinema.
Our annual film festival showcases student work in video production and photography.
Local field trips to observe newscasts, live and commercial production.
Bio
Michael Bibbo has been producing television and film for over 30 years and has more than 250 television programs to his credit.
Michael graduated from Bennington College and followed his passion for film and attended the New School University in New York City, graduating with a M.A. in Film and Media Communications.
Following school, he landed in Norfolk, Virginia and produced content for a local television program called “BuzTV,” a late-night entertainment program which earned several regional Emmy Awards. His follow-up was “Brain Stew”, a syndicated children’s educational series rated in the top 10 programs in the country.
In 2007, he co-created one of NASA’s most successful outreach programs, NASA 360 which continues today. It was the first NASA series to air on HULU, iTunes, DIRECTV, AND PBS. It earned 3 Capital Region Emmy Awards during its run and in 2011 Michael was nominated for a National Daytime Emmy Award for editing. His follow-up series, NASA X was produced through 2022.
Michael taught film production at Old Dominion University for several semesters from 2019-2020. He continues to maintain and foster professional working relationships with several of his students.
Michael has been actively involved for several years in the development of our film and television academy. His enthusiasm and involvement in local media production continues to inspire the next generation of creators.
He continues to work on national and local commercial projects, documentaries, and aerial videography through his company, Waverleigh Creative.
Grateful Hurrah Players Highlight
Hurrah gave me a purpose and helped me discover my passion. I had such a sense of fulfillment at a young age because of The Hurrah Players and Hugh Copeland. It set the track for my career and life.
Through kindness, acceptance and love, Hurrah became a place most of us call home and people we call family. I can never replace the collection of incredible memories I have or the lessons I have learned. I believe anyone who joins will inevitably begin to feel this way and become part of our family.
