In July 2019, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries of METU, Dr. Zsolt Bátori Ph.D., Associate Professor, Art Philosopher, Head of the Institute of Art and Design, received representatives of Shandong Vocational College of Media and Communication (SDVCMC) at our university where a cooperation agreement was signed.

 

The Chinese delegation from the Shandong Academy of  Arts has a modern and colorful education portfolio, featuring the field of film, television, and media. The primary aim of their visit was to develop an active, mutual international engagement of our universities’ motion picture, film, animation, and educational sites. And to establish active cooperation between the two universities’ scientific and educational work. These might be in the fields of professional investment and education, including the creation of e-learning opportunities, talent management, staff and student exchanges, joint organization of international scientific conferences, joint scientific projects, and sharing of educational materials.

   

Members of the SDVCMC delegation:

Qi Yuan Jiang, Secretary of the Party Committee

Liu Sheng Kun, Director of Infrastructure Office

Dong Shan Zhi, Head of the Department of Information Engineering

Liu Yu Fei, Director of the Training Center

Tian Rui, Central, and Eastern Europe - China Cooperation Development Association (In Hungary), Budapest liaison officer and Dr. Mihály Szacsky, Chairman of the Association of Natural and Sport Science of the University of Technology

Besides visiting the METU Rózsa Street campus, the delegation also visited the METU Rottenbiller street campus, where Melinda Kiss (DLA animation designer, associate professor, head of the Institute of Animation and Media Design) and Prof. Dr. Rozgonyi Ádám (DLA habil. film director, screenwriter, university professor, head of the Institute of Motion Picture)  introduced the workshops of animation, media design and film, and film education at METU.

   

Afterward, the team visited the 9th studio of the Origo Film Studio, the most important venue of our practical film training. The site was presented by one of our filmmaker instructors, Sándor Csukás, Béla Balázs Award-winner artist.

In this venue, students of the Visual Representation BA (Specialized in Film and Media), are instructed by professors who are experts in current filmmaking techniques and can also work with the tools used in professional contemporary film production. From the first semester, through various photography tasks, the students progressively get to know motion picture during the first four semesters. A director or cinematographer and a studio master are continually working with the students. It is not uncommon for the instructors to entrust students with part-time tasks in their work, so they can work in a real-life situation and test their knowledge. During their studies here they can choose which field of motion picture they’d like to specialize in. Thus, the diploma is composed of full film crews (director, screenwriter, lighter, assistant cameraman, etc.). The students can shoot their diploma works in any chosen location- may it be indoors or outdoors, or event the 9th studio of Origo Film Studio.

   

Fotó: Huszár Dávid

The 10-year-old, 7-ha Origo Filmstudio was proud to welcome the delegation. Márta Horváthné Dr. Fekszi, CEO and Tamás Wisinger Studio and Stage manager introduced the 2000 m2 studio especially the areas for Digital Film, Post Production, and Cinema. László Hargittai, the head of the Post-production studio gave an insight into the work of the editing room and scanner room. Zoltán Virág post-production engineer gave and tour in the thelightning studio, where a new generation of Hungarian filmmakers are educated to work in productions like Die Hard, Inferno, Blade Runner, Hercules, Spy, other successful, world-famous movies.

   

We asked a few questions about the cooperation, history, and plans of Dr. Miklós Szacsky, a former expert of University of Technology and Economics and the Chairman of the Association of Natural and Sport Science of the University of Technology.

What were your starting point and the background to this collaboration between METU and SDVCMC which you planned and realized?

Since 1994, Chinese partners have been continuously interested in my research at the University of  Applied Sciences. Their request was for Chinese provincial universities and research sites to join the 1st Quantum Biology School. In connection with METU, we are working on the elaboration of the e-learning method of quantum biology education. METU and the University of Technology and Economics jointly launched a unique course, which was very successful. My past is film and the fact that the association and our foundation have a studio have made it possible to perform test shots that can be used for education.

   

What was the purpose of the meeting, what were the plans for the future?

In the previous year, the University of Technology and Economics and CSU universities entered into a collaborative contract for life science joint research, based on quantum biology. In the contract, the University of Technology and Economics indicated that it was such a big task that joint work with other Hungarian universities was necessary. Carrying out the coordination was the task of the University of Technology and Economics, the Association of Natural and Sport Science of the University of Technology, and its foundation, the Pannon Palatinus József Nádor Public Benefit Foundation. I handed over my credentials to the management of three universities and suggested to create a joint organization for four Hungarian universities to cooperate with China. These universities are Szent István University, the University of Physical Education and METU. In January of this year, the rectors of the four universities discussed the possibilities at the rector's office of BME. By the end of January, the rectors of all four universities also made a written statement on Sino-Hungarian scientific cooperation. So, the purpose of the SDVCMC's visit was to develop stronger cooperation with the organization established by the four Hungarian universities (QUB8). The most important priority of this was the production of imaging, television, e-learning curriculum, scientific films, and the artistic quality of scientific dissemination.

   

Fotó: Ifj. Szacsky Mihály

What is the role of Pannon Palatinus in this cooperation?

To effectively support culture and science, the Association of Natural and Sport Science of the University of Technology established the Palatinus Society. Later on, based on its activities, the association registered the Pannon Palatinus "József Nador" Public Benefit Foundation and its electronic scientific publication. On this platform, you can read a lot of articles about culture, science, and art, film, and video. We are open to all cooperations and so we have also launched an issue in Chinese. This may even mean that the METU TV issue will start.

 Based on feedback, the Chinese partner thinks that the first encounter was beyond expectations and would like to sign a complex cooperation agreement in Jinan in September, in which METU will participate.

 

   

Fotó: Ifj. Szacsky Mihály

2019. 07. 18.