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BENCHMARK SCHOOL WINS TOP PRIZE FOR THE
HEART AND SOUL OF YOUR SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST

CREATED BY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER/DIRECTOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
RAND SNYDERMAN OF IMAG-IN
PROVIDING THE GRAND PRIZE OF A CUSTOMIZED VIDEO VIEWBOOK OF THE SCHOOL

Philadelphia, PA (April 26, 2012) – Award-winning producer Rand Snyderman of Imag-IN, a communications company, is pleased to announce Benchmark School in Media, PA is the winner of their “Heart and Soul of Your School” Essay Contest. The contest invited over 30 independent schools to have students describe the real essence of their school in 100 words or less, so that Imag-IN could depict it in their grand prize – a custom-produced video viewbook. Benchmark is a coed day school for children 6 to 14 years of age, and committed to helping bright children with learning differences develop into confident strategic thinkers and problem-solvers.

Benchmark School students went over and above what was expected. With 27 heartfelt essays submitted, Benchmark was selected by the judges as the winner. Joining Snyderman as a judge was educational consultant Andy Mozenter of Concentrics, a West Chester-based organizational development and strategic planning consulting firm. Snyderman said, “We read many essays that demonstrated how much students respect their schools, but the depth of the responses from Benchmark was overwhelming.” Mozenter added, “To read, in just a few choice words, how much these children value their school experience suggests to me that there is extraordinary partnering going on between educators and students and that Benchmark has established a psychologically safe environment for students to develop into confident learners.”

For the schools, the exercise was very worthwhile. Eleanor Wiley Gensemer, Ed. D., Head of Benchmark Middle School, knows there is a special “heart” to their school and a real sense of community, but she didn’t expect to see so many passionate responses from the students. She said, “This was a good opportunity to see the number of kids who feel good about the school. It was very encouraging for the teachers to see how positive the kids were. It was a real pat on our backs to read that the kids feel very proud to be here.”
Excerpts from some of the winning essays follow:

• There is a sign outside of my school building that says “Benchmark School.” The sign is not correct. Benchmark isn’t a building. Benchmark is a people.

• Though the students at Benchmark all have learning differences we respect one another because everyone understands the trials each person must go through to be successful. At Benchmark there is an undercurrent of understanding.

• Benchmark’s soul is the community because staff members and the students understand that we as a whole all learn differently and that makes the community stronger.

• Our Mentors are the heart and soul of Benchmark because they make Benchmark feel like a real community.

• Benchmark is an outstanding school. I can be myself here.

• This is special because I actually feel like the teachers actually care about helping you and really want you to be a success.

• Our community at Benchmark has something that most schools probably do not have. That is trust. Our community is built around trust. We have lockers without any doors.

The prize of a video viewbook — a film-quality video — will bring the soul of the school to life. Imag-IN will produce the video, with a target completion date by the end of the school semester in June 2012. The viewbook can be used in any way that benefits the school – as a memory piece for students and their families or as a promotional tool for recruitment purposes. The video viewbook will reflect the “Heart and Soul” essays and become a permanent record of the how the students feel about Benchmark.

Imag-IN was originally established in 1987 by Snyderman as a business-to-business communication company. He soon built it into an award-winning leader in the design of high quality, intelligent marketing tactics for the corporate marketplace. With clients that reflect top names in a variety of market sectors — AT&T International, AstraZenca Pharmaceuticals, Lucent Technologies, Novacare and NFL Films, to name a few — over the past thirty years, Snyderman has gained tremendous respect as a creative director with vision, designing cutting-edge marketing campaigns that included video, print and the staging of elaborate tradeshow events. For more information visit, www.imag-in.com
Andy Mozenter is the founder and President of Concentrics Inc. Founded in 1989, Concentrics is an organizational development consulting firm, proficient in designing and implementing innovative processes that enhance the development and productivity of organizations. Mozenter has been providing organizational development consulting services to corporations, public and private schools, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations in the U.S. and Europe since 1983.
Founded in 1970, Benchmark’s internationally recognized, research-based program enrolls approximately 160 full-time students from the five-county Philadelphia region, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware. In addition, a five-week Summer Camp serves approximately 230 children who benefit from reading and writing instruction beyond the regular school year, as well as enjoy a recreational day camp. Benchmark’s goal is to meet students where they are so that they will experience success and develop the confidence that will enable them to take full advantage of the instruction to prepare them to meet with success in public and independent high schools and colleges and to become successful citizens of the world. Benchmark School is located at 2107 N. Providence Rd. in Media PA 19063.

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Philadelphia, PA (March 5, 2012) – After launching several media businesses in Israel and the USA, and raising his family in both countries, Delaware Valley native son Rand Snyderman is re-focusing his award-winning communications company ImagiN on USA-oriented projects that bring depth and inspirational messaging to his projects.

Bringing a worldly perspective to the U.S. media scene, Snyderman is in development for several projects that touch on what he refers to as “heart and the soul.” He has a new TV entertainment project on a colorful family of Utah truckers, designed to re-awaken American pride and foster harmony. In another project, ImagiN is working on video campaigns capturing and communicating the heart and soul of schools and universities. And for art galleries, his recent trip to East Asia resulted in a dramatic photo exhibit capturing the essence of India.

“I love thinking about what makes people tick,” explained Snyderman. “Even though film was my primary major at Temple University, I also studied cultural anthropology. It digs into the many ways people are affected by the settings they live in and the stories and beliefs that shape their lives. That perspective really drives my current vision. After living overseas for two decades and raising sons both there and here, I’m now home in the USA to live permanently. I believe that communicating exciting, inspiring new stories can unite us, encouraging an appreciation of each other, while also celebrating individualism. And that’s my goal now.”

Originally established in 1987 as a business-to-business communication company, Snyderman built ImagiN into an award-winning leader in the design of high quality, intelligent marketing tactics for the corporate marketplace. With clients that reflect top names in a variety of market sectors — AT&T International, AstraZenca Pharmaceuticals, Lucent Technologie, Novacare and NFL Films, to name but a few — over the past thirty years, Snyderman has gained tremendous respect as a creative director with vision, designing cutting-edge marketing campaigns that included video, print and the staging of elaborate tradeshow events.

Among the awards conferred on Snyderman and ImagiN are three Telly Awards, three Axiem Awards, two New York Film Festival Awards and a Mercury Award. A regional spot, directed for Temple University Football, garnered Snyderman a coveted Monitor Award.

ImagiN’s current focus on home audiences reflects Snyderman’s eagerness to get back to his youthful roots in the music and entertainment industry. He has the distinction of starting his career with the Flying Burrito Brothers. After graduation from Temple University’s School of Communications and Theater, he moved to Israel and became involved in the film and recording industry there.

Snyderman actively participated in the initial development of Helicon Records with company founder and CEO Ronnie Braun in 1985. In 1997, this relationship expanded as Snyderman, then living in the United States, assisted Gravity Post Production Facilities in Tel Aviv merge with Rhinoceros Post Production of New York City. In 2009, the partners of Gravity purchased the remaining shares of Rhinoceros and re branded the company Gravity, with an international approach. Gravity is now considered one of the top ten special-effects houses in the world.

For more information, visit www.imag-in.com

As I drove around the continental United States, I was graciously invited to attend the opening of Willie’s Place, located in Carl’s Corner,Texas, 75 miles south of Dallas.

I had the honor of being greeted the day I arrived by Carl Cornelius himself. One of the most gracious and down home men I had ever had the pleasure of meeting. I could spend hours speaking about Carl, but for now, I’ll simply say that I will remember that meeting as one of my major lifetime milestones.

The weekend was special because Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel were going to end their North American tour that evening. I was truly excited, not only to be able to see Willie, but also since Ray Benson the founder of Asleep at the Wheel had grown up here in the Philadelphia area. Montgomery Township to be exact, just north of the city.

Given the opportunity, I could probably to this day, recount every single moment of that weekend. The people I met, the music I heard, the food I tasted, and the sense of belonging in a rare and special community.

Here are a few of the shots I took that weekend.

I love the Rembrandt lighting.

Tap on Photo for a larger view.

When I started clicking my first time in Jerusalem, I learned that many of my Arab neighbors were still superstitious and thought that by photographing them, I was “stealing” their soul. I quickly made it part of my style to raise my lens so that others might realize I’m about to click a shot, and that provides them with that moment to either turn away, or allow the action take place.

I was pleasantly surprised to experience something new on my trip to India. Most people were not only happy to have their pics “clicked” but they often approached me to get a look-see.

This one particular shot was a pleasant surprise. I presented two young women, both aware I was clicking away, and one dared me, and the second shyly hid her face. To me, it is a simply charming shot.

Click on Pic to see it larger.

This was prior to the suicide of the young man at Rutgers.  The problem had already manifested itself in many ways however, throughout the nation.

The video is through the eyes of Missy, a first year teacher with a desire to “do the right thing”, as she video blogs her thoughts and fears.  The “right thing” however is an illusive situation, and Andy had found that the best way to encourage folks to open up about their own issues, was to present case studies of similar situations and stimulate conversation and interaction amongst a group:  a group of students, a group of parents, a group of teachers, etc.

Some of the situations may appear benign in nature and some may appear a bit overblown.  Again, the exercise is to elicit discussion.  None of these scenarios is necessarily based on correct procedure by teacher or student.  If you are a professional educator, you may see things that go against the grain.  If so, discuss that issue as well, but don’t let procedure interrupt your emotional reaction to the case studies.

I’ll be curious to reactions regarding the emotional elements of this piece.

To see the image larger, simply click on it.

Upon arrival at the college, I was not only impressed, but extremely excited to learn that there is a curriculum for Media Studies. The instructors and students I met displayed an amazing passion for learning as much as they could.

I thoroughly enjoy sharing my own experiences with students and I believe in the end, I gained far more from this experience then they did. I continue to interact with these brilliant young women, and I look forward to revisiting this year, in order to teach a few more classes.

It was a week of running, gunning, and Learning. You see, I not only had the opportunity to work on the film, I also had the opportunity of finding a specific niche that I now believe is a true direction for me: University and Private School view books.

Each Video View Book, is and will be unique unto the teaching institution. And this is what I find so exciting. Each project will bring us a level of diversity and new perspective, which is the sole reason for me, being in this business.

Yeah, it’s an old piece… almost 15 years now. (Amazing) And yet, as I look at other videos for Private Schools, the only thing that I find different is the quality of the image… Beta vs High Def. The amount of listening by us, the ability of the client to state who and what there were, and then and only then the act of bringing in the production crew is what makes this product memorable and still pertinent.

We are very interested in meeting with all educators who have a desire to portray their schools in an interesting, dynamic and unique manner.

Click here to view the embedded video.