coo cinema club

spotlight on... Coo Cinema Club

Lights, camera, action! You may have heard these chants booming across the University of Sioux Falls campus lately. The culprit: USF’s new club to celebrate movie making, aptly named the Coo Cinema Club. CCC got its start this last January when the founders, Apolonia Davalos and Josh Werre combined their love for cinema with the support of USF’s Media Department. Davalos says, “The mission of the Coo Cinema Club is to create original and compelling films that reflect upon the core of the human spirit and humankind’s quest for purpose as a creation created in God’s image. We aspire to produce and establish opportunities for continued growth and development as creative artists in challenging and collaborative productions.”

In less than a year this club doubled its members, says Davalos, “from 20 to now 44 new and returning individuals.” Frida Ramirez, one of the CCC freshman members says, “Joining Coo Cinema Club was an easy choice for me, I knew I would make friends with similar interests, become a part of USF’s community, and have memories to cherish forever!” Ramirez is also one of the members who does not have previous cinema experience. Ramirez says, “This is my first time working with cinema but I am excited to broaden my horizons and learn new skills in the comfort of friends.” Media and cinema skills are not required to participate in CCC. Davalos says, “Coo Cinema Club incorporates all talent. Filmmaking needs cinematographers, editors, actors, musicians, audio mixers, photographers, production managers, etc. We are an inclusive club for everyone to utilize and grow their talents through an everlasting medium.”

club cofounder Josh Werre on set

club member Cale Engelkes on set

club founder Apolonia Davalos

Coo Cinema Club

story by Everett Moran

Coo Cinema Club members: Cale Engelkes, Amanda Hamil, Everett Moran, Frida Ramirez, Tori Frahm, Morgan Holien, and Apolonia Davalos.

We are an inclusive “ club for everyone to utilize and grow their talents through an everlasting medium. “

Although CCC endorses a friendly environment, this group is very structured when it comes to competition season. Adam Paulson, one of Coo Cinema Club’s early members says, “My favorite memory was the Prairie Grass Film Challenge last J-Term when we only had 48 hours to create a short film from start to finish.” This year the club aspires to compete more. “Some events to look forward to would be The South Dakota Film Festival, collaborations with USF’s Improvidence, and the partnership with Nightmare Fueled Entertainment in producing Josh and Zachary Werre’s short film “The Haunted Mask,” says Davalos.

The Coo Cinema Club seems to be an extraordinary addition to USF and it’s Media and Visual Arts Department. Many of the students majoring in Media Studies have already joined the CCC. Davalos says, “Our club is unique because we operate more like a production company. The officers brainstorm storylines and concepts for the next adventure, write scripts, engage to recruit cast and crew, scout locations, manage location and talent release forms, construct a production schedule, and work with the utmost professionalism and discipline to inspire and champion the dream to life! The Coo Cinema Club is a business that endeavors to feature as much USF talent as possible, in every art form, and together grow and create exceptional and memorable cinema worth watching!”