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Italy opens theme park in tribute to film industry

By WTOP Staff

KAVITHA SURANA
Associated Press

ROME (AP) — A new amusement park outside Rome celebrates the world of cinema, taking visitors back to the golden age of Italian film production when the Rome-based Cinecitta Studios — still in operation — were known as “Hollywood on the Tiber.”

“Here, the idea is that people will also enter not only sets, but the confusion of a place where we are shooting movie. Everything will be illusion,” said Emmanuel Gout, president of Cinecitta Parks. “The visitor will become a protagonist of the day, becoming a star, becoming involved in some fake movie.”

At a submarine set, visitors get into character by donning marine helmets and racing through an action-packed movie scene. These marines bark orders and frantically spin valves, trying to avert an impending disaster.

Fans of Sergio Leone spaghetti Westerns will delight in the Western set, which features an Ennio Morricone soundtrack for make-believe cowboy showdowns. A 1920s New York set is inspired by Dante Ferretti’s set work for the Martin Scorsese film, “Gangs of New York.” Ferretti actually designed all the sets for the park.

But beyond the lights, camera and action, no amusement park is complete without some wild rides. Cinecitta World mixes roller coasters with the pleasure of cinematic recreation: a futuristic corkscrew roller coaster connected to a spaceship and a water coaster in an ancient Rome set.

Italy is not exactly known for its amusement parks — most tourists come to Rome to view real ancient ruins, like the Colosseum. But Cinecitta World’s creators hope this park will coax tourists to tack an extra day onto their itineraries.

“The average tourist spends five days in Paris but two and a half days in Rome,” said Luigi Abete, president of the Italian Entertainment Group. “After they opened the Disney theme park outside Paris, the average stay went up.”

And Cinecitta World does stand out among theme parks in several ways. For one thing, the food is better. No greasy funnel cakes or corn dogs to be found: Visitors instead can sit down to a civilized meal at an Italian wood-fired pizzeria at the Gatsby-esque Charleston Club; a healthful buffet (with a glass of wine, for grown-ups) at the Old American Bistro, or a rollicking barbecue at the saloon.

But beyond the food, there’s plenty of kitsch at Cinecitta World. With its jumble of loose references to bygone films that many children (and even some adults) won’t be familiar with — from the 1914 silent film “Cabiria” to American classics like “High Noon” and “Indiana Jones” — it seems oddly and refreshingly disconnected from the current moment.

“While other places say what you have to dream, we don’t. We are free,” said Gout.

Italians seem to agree. “It takes us back in time,” said Mirella Monti, a visitor at a preview before the park’s official July 24 opening. “Cinema always has this effect: In a few seconds, it catapults you into a completely different environment than reality — it could be the future or the past.”

___

If You Go…

CINECITTA WORLD: http://www.cinecittaworld.it/ . Open daily 10 a.m.-11 p.m. through Aug. 31. Hours vary beginning Sept. 1. Adults, 29 Euros ($39); children under 10 and adults over 65, 23 Euros ($31). Children shorter than one meter (40 inches) are free. Located a 45-minute drive from Rome. Reachable via direct shuttle bus from Termini train station, the Vatican, the Eur Fermi stop of metro line B, or the Santa Palomba regional train line station. Across the street from the park is the popular outlet mall Castel Romano Shopping Village.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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