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The Pendulum
WedneSdaY, march 4, 2009 // Page 15
50/50 Film Festival explores ‘The Other’ Alex Trice Reporter Elon’s second 50/50 film festival took place last weekend, and teams of student filmmakers were given the chance to compete for prize money of up to $500. The task? Simple: Create a short film centered on the theme of “The Other.” “‘The Other can be someone of a different sexual orientation, race, culture, age, social class or background than the majority,” said Tom Arcaro, the director of Project Pericles. “Everyone has been ‘The Other’ at some point or another. We want the filmmakers to explore ‘The Other’ — the dynamic between being on in the inside and on the outside. What does it mean to be part of ‘The Other?’ What are our responsibilities as global citizens with respect to our response to ‘The Other?’ How should you treat ‘The Other?’” Student teams were given no limitations on the style or genre of their piece. They could make anything from a comedy to a drama, or even a sci-fi piece as long as their video touched on the given theme. But they were given restrictions on other aspects of their films. One such regulation was the film had to be entirely planned, prepared, produced, directed, written, shot and edited in just 50 hours. Additionally, they were limited to the use of
just 50 words. According to Arcaro, this is to put premium emphasis on visual storytelling. Students should be influenced to make their images as telling as possible. Ten teams competed in this year’s event, he said. But one of them wasn’t even at Elon. Junior Peyton Lea, who is currently studying abroad in Ireland, signed up for the competition as a one-man crew and hopes to make a special entry to the contest. “I’m really excited about being able to participate from across the pond,” Lea said. “It’s a unique opportunity only Elon could provide or allow. Mostly, I hope to make a piece that doesn’t need to be set in Elon or Dublin or the North Pole to make sense and allow people to understand the message. I have a unique opportunity to be outside of the college realm and make something that could apply to anyone in any place.” This year marks the second 50/50 Film Festival event. The first one, held in 2006, was centered on the theme of what it means to be a global citizen. The festival first came about as a way to keep a strong connection between the school of communications and Project Pericles, Arcaro said. “We’ve had a great relationship for the past eight years,” said J. McMerty, communications professor and video projects coordinator. “Dr. Arcaro wanted to do something else to keep communication
See the screening and awards ceremony When: 8 p.m. monday Where: Yeager recital hall Cost: Free
students still involved in Project Pericles and so we developed together this 50/50 festival based on the 48-hour film project that happens nationally.” The 50/50 Film Festival is now a joint collaboration not just between the communications school and Project Pericles, but among other branches at Elon as well. While the school of communications provides the cameras, editing labs and filmmakers, Project Pericles sponsors the event and generates the themes. The theater department provides the acting talent and Student Affairs provides some of the funding. Arcaro said he purpose of the festival is to present students with the opportunity to participate in a fun project outside of class and work together with students of other qualifications while promoting civic engagement and global awareness within their work. “This idea of making media with a message is something that we want to instill in our students while giving our students experience in making a film, but encouraging them to do it in a way that helps others,” McMerty said.
liNDSAy FeNDt | Staff Photographer Sophomore Joshua chagani sets up the camera in one of the group exercise classrooms in Koury Gym. chagani and his partner, senior colleen callahan, worked all weekend on their 2-minuteA team of judges will to student evaluate the submissions. documentaries Along with a council from the are posted on theater arts program, three www.elon5050. special judges were enlisted for wordpress.com this competition. Guest judges and viewers can include Charity Apple from the vote for their favorite. Burlington Times-News, Elon’s Results of the 50/50 Scholar-in-Residence Ahmed Film Festival will be Fadaam and Bill Bonderant, a revealed on March 9. Cash trustee of the Park Foundation, prizes will be given for which promotes scholarship the top three short films. in higher education. Viewer’s Choice, Best Male The public will also be Lead and Best Female Lead involved in the judging. Links choices will also be awarded.
Student-run festival showcases up-and-coming filmmakers Jack Dodson Reporter On UNC Greensboro’s campus, the Carolina Film and Video Festival was tucked into a back room in Elliott University Center. Here, from Feb. 25 to Feb. 28, the school hosted its annual film festival. The festival has been going on sporadically for about 30 years, provides benefits unique to many other festivals. Specifically for UNC G students and North Carolina filmmakers, cheaper entry fees and a variety of award sections raise the potential for submissions. It also showcases high school filmmakers, university student films and international films alike. In addition to its diverse entries, the film festival proves itself even more unique based on its setup: The festival is entirely student run. UNC G actually offers a course on the Carolina Film and Video Festival at the 100 and 400 levels, in which students learn how to plan, manage and execute the event. From screening entries to setting up and working at the festival, students oversee every aspect of the four-day event. “Last semester we screened the films, and it was decided by students what films were accepted into the festival,” said John Boschini, a UNC G sophomore and festival publications co-chair. “There was no safety net. If the festival got screwed up it was our fault, not the faculty’s or administration’s.” The film festival consisted of two categories. Filmakers could submit their work in either the competitive category — in which films were juried and eligible for awards or the special screenings section — where for filmakers that were not submitting for award recognition. Between 10 and 12 hours of video were chosen as “official selections” for this year’s competition. A crowd gathered to watch this year’s submissions at first, with interest gaining as the week progressed. The turnout of the 2009 CFVF included some of its filmmakers— the winner of the screenwriting
2009 Carolina film and Video festival Winners north Carolina: nathan Bezner, “altar” north Carolina (honorable mention): Joshua gibson, “The Siamese connection” unC g student showcase: edward Tyndall, “Sadie’s Waltz”
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the 2009 carolina Film and video Festival which took place from Feb. 25 to Feb. 28 showcased documentaries from high school, college and international films. competition, Lukas Hassel — workshops her dissertation for the competition. with industry experts and many While she is focusing more on teaching students who just appreciate film. now, Triche still has films in progress. Hassel, an actor trained in Dublin She is currently in pre-production on at Trinity College, tried his hand as a an animation short that she hopes to screenwriter. His film, “Girls on the Run,” move to post-production this summer. won the screenwriting competition. “Whenever I get into a festival, I’m Previously, Hassel wrote and happy,” Triche said. “Film festivals directed a few shorts, but he says “Girls are where you can see true innovation on the Run” is the first feature he’s and creativity on screen. Also, written that he has been happy with. CFVF was a great opportunity to “The festival is going to be work with undergraduates on a one of the notches on ‘Girls on project outside of the classroom.” the Run’s’ belt,” Hassel said. CFVF 2009 was managed by UNC G He was excited to attend the graduate students Cara Clark and Rick festival, attend workshops, ask Dillwood. With a time commitment that questions and get to look at things averages between 10 and 20 hours a week, from a different perspective. the event has required a lot of focus. Asking many questions “We both work more than that,” at the workshops, aspiring Dillwood said. “It has dominated our filmmakers took advantage of the time since the second week of January.” speakers’ industry connections. The work seemed to pay off, though. Matt Decker is a UNC G junior They were pleased with how the festival majoring in cinema. Throughout the turned out, but they are already festival, he watched and discussed looking forward to next year’s event. films and attended the workshops in “I imagine there may be order to supplement his classwork. changes,” Dillwood said. “I’m enjoying it so far,” Decker With another year ahead, and said. “It’s fully interesting.” plenty of films to be made and Elon had particular ties to this year’s screenplays to be written, there is festival. Instructor of communications ample time for Clark and Dillwood Nicole Triche earned her Master's of to make those changes. Strong Fine Arts through the cinema program support from submissions and at UNC G. For three years, she ran CFVF speakers means the festival has as a graduate student. This year, Triche the potential to increase students’ submitted two experimental films from in-depth experience with films.
independent narrative short: lin Oeding, “Interpretation” independent narrative short (honorable mention): richard gale, “The horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon” Independent Narrative feature: Brandon Beckner, “Remarkable Power!” Student Narrative (tie): Jason Sokoloff, “Mr. Brooklyn” and Khen Shalem, “On the Road to TelAviv” Documentary: Bestor Cram and Judy Richardson, “Scarred Justice” Experimental/Animation: Erick Oh, “Symphony” High School: Youn Kim, “KH1” High School (honorable mention): gabrielle Lui, “Sweet Seduction” Screenplay