Charlottesville, Va. – October 4,  2022 – The Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) Fine Arts and Performance season continues with a day of filmmaking and viewing, Friday, October 21. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., film industry professional Ty Cooper will return with his “Documentary and Narrative Filmmaking Workshop,” introducing aspiring filmmakers to a host of helpful topics and techniques. Free Movie Friday follows at 7:30 p.m., with a screening of the 2022 neo-western, science fiction/horror film “Nope.” Both events are free and will take place in the Main Stage Theatre in the V. Earl Dickinson Building, located at the south end of 501 College Drive, on the PVCC Main Campus in Charlottesville. 

While Cooper’s past filmmaking workshops have zeroed in on documentary filmmaking, this year the focus of the day’s events will widen to include the creation of nonfiction films that tell stories through filmmaking techniques. Cooper will cover a wide range of topics including formulating a story, gathering images to support the narrative, funding, editing, equipment and more. The workshop is open to beginners and experienced filmmakers. 

The screening of “Nope” comes courtesy of the PVCC Art Club and features the latest from writer, director and comedian Jordan Peele. The genre-busting movie tells the sometimes funny and sometimes terrifying story of siblings (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) who try to capture evidence of what they believe is an unidentified flying object that appears over their ranch. 

Ty Cooper has written, directed, edited and/or produced multiple documentary and narrative films. His most recent nonfiction film, Amanda, is spot touring the country and has won awards such as “Best Short Drama” at the American Filmatic Arts Awards and “Best Narrative Short” at the Montreal Independent Film Festival. Cooper has organized the ongoing “Indie Short Film Series” since 2019 to boost the voices of independent filmmakers. He has held the position of Outreach and Promotion Consultant for the Virginia Film Festival since 2017. 

For more information about the PVCC Fine Arts and Performance season, visit www.pvcc.edu/performingarts or call the PVCC Box Office at 434.961.5376. 

About Piedmont Virginia Community College
Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally, residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach her/his potential, and excellence in all programs and services. Visit www.pvcc.edu.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 
Susian Brooks
Director, Marketing and Media Relations
434.961.6574 | sbrooks@pvcc.edu