Student-made films of every style and genre received the red-carpet treatment during the first film festival at Kennesaw State University (KSU) on April 28. The showcase created a platform for aspiring filmmakers to present their work and celebrate the art of visual storytelling.
In his first semester teaching media and entertainment (MENT) at KSU, assistant professor Sangsun Choi already has made a significant impact on campus by organizing the event. He said his students had their first Q&A as filmmakers and were excited about expressing their feelings on stage.
“When you consider MENT major students, most of them are super comfortable behind the camera, and based on my experience this year, most of my students are a bit introverted, and they don’t stand on the stage often,” he said. “This festival experience was somewhat different for them.”
The School of Communication and Media has about 1,400 students enrolled, and half have expressed interest or already enrolled in the MENT program. With this in mind, Choi recognized a great need for students to showcase their work on the big screen.
“Previously, I have managed similar film festivals, so I already had some experience related to organizing festivals,” he said. “When I considered the size of the university and the number of students here, I thought we should definitely have a film festival.”
As a professor and filmmaker, Choi said attending film festivals is crucial to students’ growth as directors. Observing the audience’s facial expressions and reactions to their films can teach students many lessons about communicating with their viewers. He felt the school needed to create an event where students could learn the importance of that communication.
The festival was an opportunity to make all aspects of cinematography interesting for students. Choi chose four professional judges to review submissions for the festival. These judges were industry professionals or professors from peer institutions.
“Our students are already familiar with our instruction and preference as filmmakers,” he said. “I wanted to show their work to the people off-campus, so the students would be more excited about the judging process.”
Considering it was KSU’s first film festival, Choi was concerned about the number of student submissions. However, he was surprised to receive 47 films and more than 80 students preregistered for the event.
Regardless of whether they are a MENT student or individuals who enjoy filmmaking as a hobby, students were eager to submit their work. Evyn Barron presented his Edgar Wright-inspired zombie short film “Operation: SPAM” and won the award for Best Narrative.
A unique aspect of Barron’s film was its live-action animation sequences inspired by “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and “Home Alone.” Barron drew each frame in Photoshop, then animated it all in After Effects. It was his first time designing animations this way, so most of the process was trial and error, he said.
“I’ve had some experience in making motion graphics, but animating like that was completely new to me,” he said. “It took longer than editing the actual film.”
Directing a film necessitates extensive planning and effective communication. Barron said he uses these steps to his advantage by waiting to see what comes to him on set. He can get a clear vision for his films by working with the crew.
“Filmmaking is like a puzzle, and putting it together is the best part,” he said.
A notable experience of attending film festivals is watching it for the first time on the silver screen. After viewing “Operation: SPAM” repeatedly during the editing process, Barron said it got tiring. Seeing it for the first time in a theater allowed him to watch it from an entirely different perspective.
“The experience was very refreshing and, honestly, very honoring,” he said. “We made history. Who gets to be a part of that all the time?”
A reliable crew is crucial to making a script come to life. Julie Holland, a rising junior at KSU, helps out on set in any way she can. She was the main character in Barron’s “Operation: SPAM” and directed her short film that won the Narrative Award of Excellence at the festival.
Holland’s film, “The Parallel,” was inspired by a creative-writing prompt from high school. It focuses on two main characters arguing when one gets stuck in a parallel universe, unable to escape. The script was reflective of her personal life, she said.
“The whole premise is a metaphor for when two people disagree and are both in the wrong, but neither of them can see that they’re in the wrong,” she said. “For her to get out of the parallel universe, they had to come together and admit to their wrongdoings.”
Every filmmaker experiences personal growth when directing a film for the first time. Holland said she is not a confrontational person, and being a leader is not a role in which she always feels comfortable. However, she knew she wanted her story told a certain way and knows leadership is a skill everyone needs to learn.
– Claire Becknell is a third-year journalism and emerging media student at Kennesaw State University. She believes local media is important in modern journalism and is grateful to write for Aroundabout Local Media.
And the Winner Is …
Best Documentary
“Two Paths: The Psychology of a Freelancer vs. a Full-Time Employee” Director: Marco Castaneda
Narrative Award of Excellence
“The Parallel” Director: Julie Holland
Best Narrative
“Operation: SPAM” Director: Evyn Barron
Documentary Award of Excellence
“Steve Irwin: His Life and Legacy” Director: Jake Hirschler
Best Micro Work
“Don’t Give Alcohol a Voice” Directors: Emily McGinnis, Quin Glass and Jean Boereau
Audience Award
“Desk Defender” Director: Sebastian Sole
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