Inside the Making of Student Films

Story and Photos by Carly Tipton

Students in the Department of Communication Studies have created various genres of films, including drama, suspense, and thriller productions, since the implementation of the digital production program in the fall of 2018. Digital production students are first introduced to filmmaking in the Fundamentals of Digital Production class where they learn about basic production concepts and the overall responsibilities of being a filmmaker. Students continue to learn about the digital production process through the Scriptwriting, Production, Post-Production, and Advanced Production classes. “Once students reach the Advanced Production class, they are expected to pitch their own movie ideas, write their own scripts, and then bring the stories to life through the production process,” said Katherine Dudley, Associate Professor of Communication Studies. In the fall of 2021, Advanced Production students produced two student-led films: Tips and Nemesis. Tips was a suspense film, while Nemesis was a thriller. The production process for both films started with writing scripts, location scouting, shooting schedules, casting calls, and production design with props and set dressings. The cinematographers for both films were challenged with filming many unique shots in a variety of locations. Calvin Durham, a senior communication studies major, served as the director for Tips and said that his time in the digital production program has prepared him for a future in the film industry. “The hardest part about being the director was the continuity of shooting out of order and taking advice from other students since it was a learning environment. Having hands-on training in film and working with other students provided me with a great learning environment. I feel prepared to enter the film industry after graduation,” said Durham. Cooper Hunt, a junior communication studies major and director of Nemesis, agreed with Durham. “Working with other students who have similar goals and are passionate about filmmaking has been the highlight of my career at Shorter. I am thankful for Professor Dudley’s dedication to her students and her ability to train us to best meet those future goals,” said Hunt. Dudley was proud of her students who worked on each film. “Both films were challenging and genres that have not been done before by Hawkeye Productions. My students took the challenge and ran with their creative ideas of filmmaking,” she said.

Calvin Durham, a senior communication studies major, served as the director of Tips. Cooper Hunt, a junior communication studies major, directed Nemesis.

The cast and crew get ready to film a scene for Nemesis, a student-led and created film.

Pictured from left to right: Braxton Fleetwood, Blake Baldwin, Cooper Hunt, Calvin Durham, William Gowens, Jared Ivey, and Trinity Haynes work on the set of Tips, a student-led and created film.

Griffin Skates, a sophomore communication studies major, records audio for a student film. Students film on location at the historical Myrtle Hill Cemetery located in Rome, Ga. Pictured from left to right: Hayley Arthur, Seth Calero, Trinity Haynes, Cooper Hunt, and Griffin Skates.