Film Festival Features Student Masterpieces
The Emerging Filmmaker Festival and Oscar Night party were created to support student work.
Students from San Diego State University's School of Theatre, Television, and Film are constantly striving to make a name for themselves in the film industry, and this weekend they have the chance to see their hard work come together on the big screen at the Emerging Filmmaker Festival.
The two-evening event — happening at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 and 13 in SDSU’s Don Powell Theater — features a variety of fiction and documentary short films produced by film students.
Greg Durbin, Professor in the School of Theatre and, Television and Film and one of the faculty members in charge of curating the list of films shown, emphasized what an honor it is to have work appear in the festival.
“We award originality, freshness of concept, technical execution and sophistication,” Durbin said. “We receive anywhere from seven to nine hours of student work — making it into the festival is a huge accomplishment for the film students.”
The Emerging Filmmaker Festival showcases films made by students primarily through course work. Production teams are comprised of students from varying disciplines within the Television, Film, and New Media program, including cinematography, design and editing, and function like professional film crews.
Durbin said the students work long hours to turn their concepts into reality.
“One production team stayed awake for 48 hours straight to work on their film,” Durbin said. “The students live it and breath it.”
Tickets are available on the School of Theatre, Television, and Film website.
Wally! Awards assist students will film costs
One challenge student filmmakers constantly face is the monetary demand that comes with producing a film. It is not unusual for films to cost a few thousand dollars, sometimes even more.
That is where Wally Schlotter and The WALLY! Awards have come into play in SDSU’s Television and Film Department.
Schlotter — an SDSU alumus, award-winning producer and former San Diego Film Commissioner — came up with the idea for The WALLY! Awards seven years ago to help alleviate the costs students face when making a film and aid in the future of their career. The WALLY! Awards give students the chance to pitch their film ideas, by focusing on a title, tagline and storyline, to wow a panel of distinguished judges.
“As a graduate from SDSU, I realized there was something missing in our curriculum, and that’s what happens after you graduate,” Schlotter said. “I wanted students to learn how to market their films.”
Each semester, Schlotter awards students with anywhere from $500 to $3,000. The student filmmakers are free to spend the money on any aspect of the film process, from casting to location fees.
Durbin says The WALLY! Awards encourage students to advance their thinking and really plan on where their film can go.
“We’ve noticed, since the start of The WALLY! Awards, that students really consolidate their projects and think things through more clearly,” Durbin said. “The films produced by students are stronger, finished on time and of a higher quality. There’s no question it’s had a big impact on the program."
Enjoy Hollywood’s biggest night with SDSU Film
Schlotter plans to present this years WALLY! Award winners at his annual Academy Awards party; returning to San Diego after several years of being in other cities. Schlotter has been hosting an Oscar Night for 25 years, giving filmmakers and film buffs alike the chance to celebrate Hollywood’s biggest night together, while also raising money for students in the Theatre, Television, and Film program.
Oscar Night will happen at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the Ultra Star Cinema at Mission Valley’s Hazard Center. The night will feature the big screen broadcast of the Oscars, movie related prizes, free popcorn and soft drinks, and most importantly, The WALLY! Award presentation.
Tickets for Oscar Night are $10 in advance or $15 at the door and can be purchased at the SDSU Check Out in the School of Theatre, Television, and Film or at Ultra Star Cinema in Hazard Center.
