KIRSTEN HALL | staff writer
A must-see Common Day of Learning presentation for all cinematic arts, theater arts and communication studies majors, as well as any other person with an interest in filmmaking is “Producing a Low-Budget Independent Film.”
Graduates of the APU film and television department Lauren Cray and Blake Heal have both gained valuable knowledge and experience in the area of producing short films, and they will be presenting what they have learned with attendees.
According to Heal learning how to make a short film is a skill that can be practical to a great number of people for many different reasons. Whether one is making a video for an interview, a commercial, or a special event, knowing how to produce a high-quality film on a budget is a beneficial skill.
“Nowadays, with the draw of media you can put anything up on the internet,” Heal said. “If you want to get your point across, you can make a short film for anything, church events, missions trips—I think it is a skill everyone should have.”
Heal’s background shows what can happen for film students who pursue their careers whole-heartedly. He has produced two films: The Bear and His Boy and No Love in Berry County, which won “best in festival” at the Broadcasters Education Association Film Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Heal interned at Warner Bros. for Joel Silver who was the producer of The Matrix trilogy, Die Hard, and Speed Racer.
Currently, he is assisting Paulie Johnson, reading scripts, and he just started his own company, Conscious Minds Productions, which produces videos for nationwide non-profit organizations, in addition to commercials for businesses.
Cray is no stranger to producing indies either. Cray believes she can help students to make their own films because she has gone through the challenges they are currently facing.
“I know because I’ve been there,” Cray said. “I have made six or seven films during my years at APU and several of them have gone on to win awards.”
Cray is currently working at Disneyland helping to edit and field produce for Cast TV.
“I just finished producing a sit com pilot which we will be shopping around to different networks and which will hopefully go online in the next couple of months,” Cray said.
With years of knowledge and a budding career, Cray anticipates that she will be able to aid students in pursuing their own careers in filmmaking by encouraging them to use the tools around them to create their own movies.
During these hard economic times, it can be a real challenge for college students to create their own independent films on a limited budget without quality equipment, staffing, or accessibility to unique locations.
Anders Lindwall, another alum familiar with the independent film genre, moved to South Africa to produce films. He compared moviemaking to putting together a jigsaw puzzle.
“Filmmaking, in it’s non-artistic sense, is essentially entirely all problem solving,” Lindwall said. “It’s the biggest wedding you’ve ever had to plan, with logistics that will make your head spin.”
Freshman cinematic arts major Tyler Woodward, who will be attending the presentation, discussed the hurdles he has faced when making films of his own.
“Scheduling is difficult, in addition to having no budget. And, being at a Christian university, you have to worry about censorship,” Woodward said. “You have to make up for it with creative editing, when you are limited to shooting in your own apartments or houses.”
He is hoping to discover new insight into creating films during the presentation.
Heal and Cray will help film students and other attendees address these issues in the presentation as well as give creative and alternative ways to produce independent films with limited resources.
Heal believes that it all starts with the story idea.
“Make sure you have a great, off-the-wall idea, then find someone to shoot it,” Heal said. “Just make sure you always go over the top. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to find unique locations and great actors. You would be surprised how many restaurant owners and other people are willing to let you film in their place if you just ask.”
Cray also stressed the importance of a good story idea.
“There are three main things you need to know above all else: work with people you like and trust, ask questions and pursue the answers whole-heartedly and focus on telling a good story before anything else,” Cray said.
Cray believes filmmaking is also important on a much deeper and more spiritual level.
“Living in a digital age where stories are told primarily through film and television, it is important we learn to infuse truth into our everyday lives through media,” Cray said. “The media is a great way for us to reach our generation while exposing lies and also just telling the truth, but telling interesting stories visually. Jesus was the original. He told stories with visual language so we should too.”
If you would like to learn more about making a short film, or just gain insight into an interesting topic, go to the presentation, “Producing a Low-Budget Independent Film.”
The presentation will take place today, Wednesday, March 4 during the first session in Darling room 413.
