STUDENTS ORANGE FILM FEST

By Eleanor Koski and Juliette Huy

It’s a Thursday night at Frida Cinema art house in Santa Ana and Chapman juniors Jordan Sharkey and Jackson Spiner are buzzing in anticipation over the opening of “Cocaine Bear.”

But they’ve also got another buzz going: Just maybe this would be the place for their own upcoming endeavor: a student-led “Orange Film Fest.”

For student filmmakers like Sharkey and Spiner, there is no greater fulfillment than to see your own work up on the silver screen. And these Chapman University students are taking it into their own hands.

On their minds was the hunt for the perfect venue. Once the fluorescent shimmer of the Frida Cinema’s marquee lit up their faces, it started to fall into place.

Come April, Frida Cinema will host the first-ever Orange Film Fest. Chapman students can showcase their work and compete among other filmmakers for industry exposure. It was founded by Chapman junior Derrick Davidian. He soon got student enthusiasts like

Sharkey and Spiner involved.

“Film festivals are fantastic for showcasing independent films and are a great way to discover new filmmakers,” said Spiner, a screenwriting major.

For filmmakers and artists alike, festivals like Orange Film Fest offer a crucial networking community where they can find supporters, collaborators, and even investors. They provide a chance to market and promote films not usually accessible to independent filmmakers.

Festivals also allow filmmakers to push the conversation forward by exploring different thoughts and sharing ideas. While viewers experience a diverse scope of views, filmmakers also get a platform to test their work in front of a crowd.

“There is also something exciting about watching films with a collective audience. Especially, in the case of Orange Film Fest, an audience of your peers,” said Sharkey.

Davidian came up with the idea after attending the Newport Beach Film Festival. Disappointed after seeing how the festival ran, he wondered if he could create a similar, smaller-scale experience that could, in his opinion, operate more successfully.

“[Davidian’s] target audience is the entirety of the Chapman community,” said Sharkey.

However, Sharkey quickly added that she feels that Davidian’s hopes for audience outreach may be a bit ambitious for the crew’s first time putting on the event.

While applications are exclusive to Chapman University students, the festival holds no official affiliation with the school.

“Much of the work that students are proudest of is their independent work, which Chapman doesn’t screen,” replied Spiner.

A lot of film students applaud those behind the new festival.

“I think it’s cool that there are students taking things into their own hands,” said sophomore film production major Will Benzian. “At Chapman, you barely see what anyone in your year is working on before you’re a junior.” long as running time does not exceed fifteen minutes

Although the team of students hopes to acquire independent sponsorships, sophomore film production major Jake Ditargiani explained funds for the event are currently limited to submission fees and ticket sales. Tickets are $17 to $20.

Films of any genre are accepted and encouraged, as long as running time does not exceed fifteen minutes and at least one key crew member is a current Chapman University student. The festival is open to Chapman students of any major seeking to showcase their work outside of an academic setting. At first the festival staff looked at a Chapman venue. But Frida was a popular choice.

“We chose The Frida because everyone loves it,” Spinner said. “Plus, it’s close to Chapman and it feels like the epicenter of film in Orange County.”

The event will run on Saturday, April 29. Ten student films, selected by an independent committee, will be screened. Guest speakers from the entertainment industry, not yet disclosed, will also speak. While the organizers have films of their own, they have no guarantee those will be selected by the committee.

The goal is to make Orange Film Fest an annual event for Chapman film students.

“I know they can be annoying and talk too much about cameras, but they are really talented and deserve to have an audience for their work,” said Spiner.