Pages 7-8: Film

Page 7: Students Make Real Films in Film School (What a Concept!)

The Fine Art of Teamwork

Filmmaking is a team sport. Without producers, cinematographers, production companies, and others, even the most gifted director’s vision means nothing. It’s no different for a film school. So, when the UCF Film Division set out to produce films that could compete on the national festival circuit, it teamed up with members of Orlando’s extensive production community to create the UCF/Orlando Capstone Production Grant.

Valued at more than $20,000, the annual grant is anchored by industry-stalwarts such as Panavision, Kodak, Continental Labs, Chapman-Leonard, LHV Audio, and the Metro Orlando Office of Film & Television. Companies contributed goods and services such as film stock, 35mm camera rig, location scouting, developing and transfer, camera crane, and a professional sound mix. The goal was to give one UCF senior the opportunity to make a 35mm film of uncompromising quality. Not surprisingly, local support ran deep. “Nobody refused us,” reports Film Division Operations Director Rich Grula, who created the grant. “Everyone we approached was eager to help. They all understood that supporting student filmmakers today was critical to the local industry’s success tomorrow.”

This year’s winner of the UCF/Orlando Capstone Production Grant was Adam Showen. His film, The Traveler captures the quiet mid-life crisis of a blue collar farmer who’s truck breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Baked by the sun, he decides to walk to the ocean, a destination he’s never managed to visit in his entire life. Showen and his team—producer Gina Powers and cinematographer John Rutland—won the grant over 15 other projects after a rigorous pitch competition where they had to stand before film industry professionals and “sell” their project. “The Traveler” wrapped production in January 2004 and is expected to premier at the annual UCF Capstone screening in April. Look for it at festivals around the country later this year.

The Groveland Four

In January of 2003 UCF students Robert Thompson, Kristi Bartlett, and Aaron Hose met during a Documenting Civil Rights class. During that class the students created the 17-minute film The Groveland Four. The film is based on Gary Corsair’s writings about the lynchings in Groveland, Florida in 1949. The students have now formed a production company and their short film is being made into a full-length documentary.

More Information: www.grovelandfour.com

Page 8: New Faculty

Sam Rohdie
Sam Rohdie is the author of Antonioni, Rocco and His Brothers, The Passion of Pier Paolo Pasolini, Promised Lands, and Fellini Lexicon. He has published widely on film in academic journals and books, and he was the editor of Screen in the United Kingdom. Before coming to UCF, Sam chaired the Film Studies program at The Queen’s University of Belfast. He has also held academic posts in Universities in Australia, England, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, and the United States. Currently, Sam is co-editor of a series of books called Cinema Aesthetics. He is also preparing for publication two books—Montage and Mise en scène and Classicism—and a study of Jean-Luc Godard’s films.

Ula Stoeckl
Ula Stoeckl has produced and directed over 10 feature films in her native Germany, including Sleep of Reason, Erika’s Passion, A Very Perfect Couple, and six documentaries. Her work has been shown at major festivals around the world, and she is currently on the selection committees for both the Berlin and Venice Film Festivals. Ula has been the recipient of many awards, including the prestigious Konrad-Wolf-Preis cultural achievement award in 1999. When asked about the UCF Film program, she says: “It’s very emerging and I think that a lot of gifted people come here. I like the film program very, very much and am proud to be a member of it.”

Barry Sandler
Barry Sandler has written and produced over 20 feature films. His work as a Hollywood screenwriter began with Kansas City Bomber, and includes The Duchess and The Dirtwater Fox, The Other Side of Midnight, Making Love, Gable and Lombard, The Mirror Crack’d, Evil Under the Sun, All-American Murder, and Evil Never Dies. He also produced and wrote Crimes of Passion for director Ken Russell. Barry is a member of the Writers Guild, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and the American Cinematheque. About UCF, Barry says “I love it. I have been very impressed with the quality of the students. They are really smart and film-savvy. People who come here are very passionate about film.”

QUEST 2004

DATE
Spring 2004

CONTACT
Sae Schatz
Arts & Sciences
Academic Promotions
407-823-5164
sae@cs.ucf.edu

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