By David Seaman | Echo
College students, high schoolers, professors and more will crowd into Rediger Auditorium on Friday, March 7. The lights will dim. The screen will flash with light. And the filmmakers who have spent weeks, months and occasionally a year or two will watch their hard work be displayed for audiences to see.
Visual storytelling that explores the human experience makes up the soul of the Envision Film Festival. The festival, which showcases student films and allows dialogue with industry professionals, runs from March 6-8. Three days of film screenings and workshops with experienced actors and screenwriters commence next Thursday and conclude the following Saturday with an awards ceremony for student film submissions. Both Taylor Media Communication students and high school visitors will be able to present their films to an eager audience at the screenings.
Senior Mel Kerigan and sophomore Abbie Brewer are the producers for Envision this year. "We take care of the non-technical stuff," Kerigan said. "We're the afterparty and publicity."
Kerigan deals with the numerous sponsorships and local business connections Envision has gathered since it started in 1998. Sponsors such as stock image company GraphicStock and Tim Eckerle of the Grant County Economic Growth Council in Marion get the word out about the increasingly popular festival.
Brewer works with the numerous high school students and their parents who visit the festival. The best high school film is shown before the student screenings on March 7, and remaining high school screenings will be held at President Habecker's home the following day.
"A lot of high school students keep coming back," said Kerigan. There's a reason for this: The Envision Film Festival consistently brings in talented speakers who have tremendous experience in the entertainment industry.
This year's speakers include Los Angeles screenwriter Neville Kiser, actor Jason Burkey (best known for his role in the surprise Christian hit "October Baby") and actor/screenwriter Mark Fauser. Fauser, the Executive Director of Marion's Community School of the Arts, is expected to be a draw for people outside of Taylor.
These guests will teach free daytime workshops on film acting and screenwriting on March 7 in Rupp. Media Communication juniors and seniors will also provide workshops for high school students on high-end equipment such as the RED Epic camera and Steadicam.
Besides speakers and workshops, the main draw of Envision is the student films. Twelve films will be shown March 7 in Rediger, with four documentaries and three narrative films being the highlights. Heartwarming documentary "The Advocate," filmed by seniors Nathan Pfaff, Sean Taylor and Kyla Martin, and and the powerfully visual "Vitae" are sure to be audience favorites. Popular Airband commercial "Last Open House" is also present in the lineup.
The festival is open to all. Tickets for the Friday, March 7, event are $5 for the public and $2 for Taylor students. For more information, visit www.envisionfilmfestival.com.
