Film Blitz

Photo: Kelsey Hightower
Max Proctor directing a short film for the
Film Blitz

The Film and Media Studies group held a 24-hour film competition last Friday, where students spent a full day writing, shooting and editing a short film. The four groups that successfully completed the challenge will have their movies shown Wednesday night.

The audience will play an important role at the screening, at least in the eyes of the filmmakers. After the movie screening, the audience will vote for their favorite film, and the winning group will receive a prize for overall best film. There will also be winners chosen for following the specific requirements most creatively, such as winning best prop or best use of dialogue. President Ty Anderson, Film and Media Studies sophomore, says every film will win some type of prize to get recognition for their work.

In 1998, the Shoot Out Film Festival in Australia came up with the concept of creating a twenty-four hour film competition. Since then, the festival expanded the model overseas to Colorado, and now many universities, including OU, are utilizing this.
Groups of film students anxiously congregated at 9:00 p.m. in Scholars Room of the Union to receive their instructions for making their film. President, Ty Anderson collected admission fees, and discussed housekeeping rules before handing out the secretive manila envelope with the requirements inside. Once the students had the envelope in hand, each team rapidly dispersed to let the creative juices flow. From there, students crafted a plot, incorporated required props and dialogue, filmed the scenes, and edited their masterpieces before 9:00 p.m. Saturday.

“This is more about the process of making a film,” said Anderson. “Not trying to create a masterpiece.” Anderson said. He participated in the film blitz the past two semesters and believes there is something to learn whether you’ve never worked on a film or if you’re an expert. Sophomore Melanie Duran said this is her first time at the film blitz. She participated so that she could start building connections with other film students and expand her knowledge about creating films. “This exercise really kick-starts your creative juices,” said Anderson. “Immediately after I had finished the film blitz I had so many ideas I could work with.”

The Film and Media Studies group will be premiering each team’s films on Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m.
(SOT: Kelsey Hightower: 0:10)

Junior Ann Laudick

Kim Haywood-deadCENTER Film Festival

Chief Operating Officer and Festival Director Kim Haywood is one of only two people working at deadCENTER Film Festival, yet she still finds time to share her love of movies with the community. Haywood has helped deadCENTER grow for the past ten years. She puts on events, finds volunteers, and teaches students about film.

deadCENTER’s rooftop has been made into a patio, set up with chairs, tables, and décor, making it the ideal spot to host movie screenings, which is exactly what Haywood does. The screenings show work from independent filmmakers whose films were registered at the festival and it is open to the community.

Haywood began working at deadCENTER as a volunteer for the annual June festival. Once she began getting involved, she couldn’t stop helping out. She’s shaped the festival from a one-day event, to now being a five-day event for 1,300 people. Her passion for films is embedded in her belief that people have stories that need to be shared. “There’s a topic or there’s a story; there’s something out there, that once I hear it I’m going to say ‘I want to make that documentary,’” Haywood said.

Executive Director Lance McDaniel also began as a volunteer at deadCENTER in 2005. Now, they depend on each other for everyday issues and crisis. Their mission at deadCENTER states: “Our mission is to promote, encourage and celebrate the independent film arts.” Haywood utilizes this mission through her projects. “She’s good at getting people excited about different things,” McDaniel said. “She rallies people to do things that are fun and good for the community.”

Haywood is currently working on getting a grant to help fund projects. These include visiting various schools all over Oklahoma to teach students about films. Students learn various aspects of film, from narrative to making and producing their own movies. Through grants and other resources, Haywood will continue reaching out and impacting others.

(VIDEO: Kelsey Hightower 1:40)

Social Media is changing the Film Industry

Photo: Kelsey Hightower
Students using social media at Gaylord.

Movies are being promoted in the newest ways possible. Filmmakers of all kinds are utilizing social media to gain more success with their films. US & World said Classical Hollywood had success because of the Star System and now Modern Hollywood has Facebook, Twitter, and mobile phones. Even independent filmmakers are taking advantage of the world at their fingertips.

Photo: Kelsey Hightower
Kenny Madison checking his Web pages.

With over 800 million users on Facebook, connecting and sharing with people has become a type of lifestyle, which makes promoting things like films much easier. Kenny Madison, Film and Studies graduate from the University of Oklahoma, said that six days ago he added one of his new episodes to YouTube, and since then it has caught the attention of nearly 150 viewers. Also, websites like Kickstarter are becoming more popular, with thousands of users pledging money to projects they like.

Traditionally, marketing was left primarily to a publicist to promote the movie. Once the movie was in theaters, word of mouth helped build the success of the movie. Now filmmakers can independently promote their movies through social media. The Disney Channel is currently promoting its new movie The Muppets by trying to make Facebook history and get “1 BaZillion likes.” If Disney reaches its goal, fans will be able to watch The Muppets before it comes out in theaters.

“Social Media has given me many opportunities,” said actor and director Philip Borghee. “We’ve found locations, people to play extras and I’ve been put in movies because of it.” Borghee is currently working on the movie The Jones’, which has its own Facebook page and has drawn a lot of attention. “A lady on Facebook saw that we need a refinery for a filming location and let us use hers,” said Borghee. Not only has Facebook helped to find places for filming, but when the cast needed extras to play zombies, every single position was found thanks to social media connections. 

           

The future is being embraced by the film industry. US & World said Paramount’s Paranormal Activity had great success in the box-office making more than $150 million after only spending $15,000 to make. “Paramount extensively used Facebook to promote the film, partnering with Eventful to get would-be fans to request a screening of the film in their area,” said US & World. Technology is driving the future for filmmakers everywhere.