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Arts & Entertainment

Smithtown Arts: 'Needle' in a Haystack

Smithtown High School East teacher Tim Needles encourages his art/media students and is busy in the field himself.

A unique combination of artistic experiences- whether it's testing Adobe software, performing comedy or putting up humorous signs along Montauk Highway- make Tim Needles a needle in a haystack around here.

The Smithtown High School East teacher is just a few days removed from the Hamptons International Film Festival, where he participated in various programs and workshops, like an animation class with the director/producer of Toy Story 3.

Volunteers at the festival included some of his students from Smithtown High School East, where Needles has taught art and media since 1999. Thanks to the non-profit Strictly Students Film Festival that Needles founded in 2003, those same students have had the opportunity to show their own films.

"We began with a student focused free film festival that was open to all of Long Island in order to give young filmmakers a chance to show off their films," Needles said, who holds the event every April in Smithtown. "We soon got entries from around the world and later opened it up to everyone and added training and workshops with industry professionals."

During regular classroom hours at the high school, Needles has taught nearly every art and media course offered, including photography, film, film history, painting, illustration, digital art, fashion and the advanced placement art course.

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In the summer, he's just as busy. He goes to California to work for Adobe, where he is a master teacher and education leader. This consists of beta testing software, giving input on lesson plans, training teachers and more.

Outside of teaching, Needles occasionally performs stand-up comedy in Manhattan at venues such as Gotham Comedy Club. He's also written plays and regularly writes about film, theater, food and music for various websites. Some specific, notable gigs include photographing popular indie rock band Vampire Weekend and interviewing actor Jonah Hill and actress Carrie Fisher, of Star Wars fame.

"I also share the process a bit with my students as a teaching device so they feel like they are part of the experience," he said.

Considering all of Needles' experiences - whether it's visiting students in Japan or seeing humorous signs he put up along Montauk Highway appearing in The New York Times - he has positive advice for students in the arts field.

"I believe the most important elements in being successful are perseverance and passion," Needles said. "In other words, you need to work a lot and you need to care a lot. If you have that, any of the other skills you need can be learned, strengthened, or managed for the most part."

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