Looking Back, Looking Forward: December 2017
School of Theatre, Film & Television:
If you’ve attended TFTV’s annual I DREAM IN WIDESCREEN film festival at the Fox Theatre in April, you know well that we have some talented and passionate student filmmakers on campus. For that screening event, each filmmaker enjoys accolades from the 1000+ folks in attendance.
What you might not know is that these student efforts start out as a networking mixer at the Tornabene every fall semester. I attended this year’s mixer and enjoyed pizza, getting to know TFTV faculty and students and high-energy that was pervasive throughout the afternoon event.
As intended, this mixer was hugely collaborative: Design & Technical Production students, Acting/Musical Theatre students and BFA filmmakers were in full force to support the effort as filmmakers pitched their upcoming senior thesis film projects. One by one, BFA film students introduced their developed story lines and vision for their films. They made requests for main role and supporting actors, and sound designers, lighting crew and a multitude of technical production needs. I was struck by the wide-range of creative stories waiting to be told: from a violinist who tries to transition from classical to pop, to a lucky soul who comes upon a large amount of cash only to discover that it is stolen money from a bank heist. I loved attending this bringing together of students as it so well exemplifies the collaborative spirit that we in the arts embrace every day in our work.
To see the final films juried by film industry professionals before they head off to major international film festivals, mark April 28, 2018 on your calendar, Fox Theater, downtown Tucson, I DREAM IN WIDESCREEN. It’s our local version of the Oscar’s.
Four photos: two crowd photos, and two of filmmakers pitching ideas to groups.
