Photo: Ethan Clevenger
What do George Lucas, Christopher Nolan and Drake junior Carter Oswood have in common? If you answered that they all made their directorial debuts making movies for their respective college film contests, then you answered right.
Drake’s Student Activities Board and DogTV are joining forces to host Drake’s first-ever, student-made film contest.
“The idea came out of our Entertainment Committee wanting to create more personal, home-made type campus events on a smaller budget,” SAB entertainment co-chair Carly Noyes said. “Something that we could really take ownership of.”
The contest, which is open to all Drake students, calls for any type of film, ranging from documentaries to cartoons and commercials to short films.
“We are encouraging a lot of creativity for the films, which can be anything from scripted movies to documentaries to silent films,” Noyes said. “We ask that they be in good taste. Otherwise any idea you have, go for it.”
There will be two parts to the judging, half of which will come from the students in attendance. The other half will come from local “experts” that could include a professor from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and someone involved in the Des Moines 24 Hour Film Festival.
The top two films will receive $200 and $150 respectively, though other prizes (and popcorn) will be given away throughout the evening.
The contest is open to any and all majors, as well as any grade levels.
“Obviously we are hoping for a lot of participation from journalism and drama students, but I think there could be a lot of interest from people across the board who like filmmaking as a hobby, or even people who have just always wanted to try it,” Noyes said.
Oswood and junior Drew Albinson are working on a promotional documentary of the city of Des Moines for the film festival.
“I chose (that topic) because I feel like I could get some great shots of the city and want to portray it as somewhere awesome,” Oswood said.
Senior Jeff Kwiatek, on the other hand, is taking a less serious approach.
“While my partners want me to be light on the details, I can divulge the genre is ‘early-surrealist drama,’” Kwiatek said.
DogTV is hosting two informational sessions for anyone interested in learning about the craft. A filming session today aims to teach the basics of using a camera and filming a video, and an editing session next Monday aims to teach students how to edit using iMovie. Both presentations will be in Meredith Hall 104 at 7 p.m.
Students have until March 5 to submit their films to the Entertainment Committee’s mailbox in SLC. The actual movie screening will be at 7 p.m. on March 8 in Aliber Hall 101.
Though both Oswood and Kwiatek have limited filmmaking experience, they’re excited to give the contest a shot.
“We are entering the contest because there’s no time like today to start the rest of our lives,” Kwiatek said. “First Drake, then the world.”
