Movie Festival is learning, winning experience for Cincinnati State students
May 26, 2011
When student film-making teams from Cincinnati State and seven other area colleges entered the 6th Annual College Movie Festival this spring, they faced the same challenge: conceive, write, film, edit and complete a seven-minute film in just two weeks.
The teams were also required to incorporate certain elements into their project. Each film, for example, had to include a character named Tony Carbone, a special events planner.
Each script also had to include this question, delivered by Tony: "When was the last time you saw it?" along with this thought-provoking line of dialogue: "There's not enough vodka in the world."
Finally – in addition to elements (drawn at random) specific to each team, they all had to include dental floss as a prop.
The results were unveiled in early May before a live audience of more than 200 people and a panel of five judges at Greaves Hall on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. All told, 21 films – a record – were submitted.
“This is a great learning experience for our students – and great exposure for Cincinnati State,’’ said Dr. O’dell Owens, president of the college. “Greater Cincinnati is known as a center for marketing and creativity, and the College Movie Festival showcases the talents – and the training – that we provide.’’
Cincinnati State walked away with three awards, more than any other college or university.
One of the three Cincinnati State teams in the competition, Picture Remedy, earned a top prize from the judges for Best Use of Required Elements for its film, “Stage Two.”
The judges (Dave Morrison, an¬ independent director/cinematographer; Melissa Godoy, a writer/producer; Preston Price, senior editor, PPS Group; John McDaniel, Sound Designer and owner of Sonic Arts Studios; Amy Cunningham, independent director/cinematographer) also gave two other awards:
- Judge's Choice: "Dependence" by PailMail from NKU
- Excellence in Pre-Production: "Dark of Day" by Fun-Kaar from UC Raymond Walters
The audience also voted on the films and gave two flights of awards:
- Group A Audience Choice: "Foundation" by Shadowface from Cincinnati State
- Group A Audience Choice Runner Up:"Dark of Day" by Fun-Kaar from UC Raymond Walters
- Group B Audience Choice: "Dependence" by PailMail from NKU
- Group B Audience Choice Runner Up: "Post" by Over the Edge from Cincinnati State
Three Cincinnati State teams with more than 30 student participants entered films in this year’s competition. Both first and second year students were involved.
Team Leaders were Patrick Lipscomb, Amanda O’Casek and Justin Vonderhaar.
Cincinnati State faculty and staff volunteered a great deal of time and were involved every step of the way to ensure students an experience that was at once professional and fun. Those involved included Dave Killen, chair of the Audio-Video Production program; instructor (and Cincinnati State graduate) Joel Knueven; adjunct instructor (and Cincinnati State graduate) Steve Taylor; and staff members Bobby Gayol, Paul Grundy and Mike Tekulve.
“I am really proud of our students and the work they produced,” Killen said. “We have always been well represented at the College Movie Festival and this year was no exception. Their creativity, professionalism and technical ability was a joy to witness.“
“Each year the films seem to get better and better and for all three of our student teams to be recognized is quite special,” he added. “We had a very good crowd this year and the feedback from students from all colleges was tremendous. Students from all participating colleges enjoyed sharing their experiences with each other and with the industry professionals in the crowd.”
