David Seaman | Echo
Tonight at 7 p.m., when the lights dim and the screen shines bright in Rediger Auditorium, young filmmakers will see their hard work and dedication shown for all to see. Shining awards and gift baskets will fill student's hands, congratulations will be showered and perhaps the college students and high schoolers presenting their films will get a taste of what they might experience in the future.
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 5-7. Three days of film screenings and workshops with experienced actors and screenwriters commenced yesterday and concludes Saturday. Tonight, Taylor Media Communication students and high school visitors will present their films to an eager audience at the screenings.
Parts of the festival changed significantly in 2015. "This is the most prospective students we have ever had at the festival," said senior Jake Rundell, a member of the Envision productions team. Rundell mentioned that many incoming prospective students are female, an encouraging sign for the male-dominated film industry.
Along with more prospective students and an increase in alums attending, this year's invitation has been extended for other schools to attend lectures. For the first time ever, videos from the Producing for Clients class are allowed to be screened at the awards ceremony.
"It was pretty cutthroat to get in this year, so we had a lot more submissions than we normally (have)," Rundell said. "Which means the films that did get in are a lot higher quality than usual."
Along with high-quality films, the festival consistently brings in high-quality speakers who have tremendous experience in the entertainment industry. Taylor graduates Aric Hartvig ('02) and Tim Naylor ('94) will teach free daytime workshops today in Rupp.
TV producer, videographer and editor Aric Hartvig of news station WFYI-PBS 20 Indianapolis will discuss building a career in media. Naylor, a former technical director at visual effects company Industrial Lights & Magic (ILM) and now co-founder of Creative Arts & Mechanics Digital, provides character designs and animations for top-notch films. The man who helped with the visual effects on "Revenge of the Sith" will talk about how visual effects enhance stories.
Besides speakers and workshops, the main draw of Envision is the student films. Thirteen films (two from the high school category) will be shown tonight at 7 p.m. in Rediger. Fantastic narrative films from last year, such as the moving "Little Dreams" and hopeful "Burnout," are sure to uplift audiences.
In addition, innovative client videos from the Producing for Client class that range from hipster clothing brands to local growth council talent shows display the great work Taylor students are doing for their local community. These films showcase the tremendous talent that Taylor students and young filmmakers bring to the medium's future. The popular and hilariously unexpected Airband commercial "Crossing" is also present in the lineup.
The festival is open to all. Tickets for tonight's event are $5 for the public and $3 for Taylor students. Tickets can be bought at the door. For more information, visit www.envisionfilmfestival.com.
