A small corner of Upland, Ind. transforms into a miniature Hollywood as Taylor’s film and media arts program brings the Envision Film Festival to campus from March 12 to 14.
The Envision Film Festival started as an event run by the Student Activities Council in 1998. It evolved into the festival it is today when Kathy Bruner, department co-chair and professor of film and media arts, came to Taylor with her husband, John Bruner, in 2008. The Bruners invited alumni back to address students.
Today, Bruner and her team oversee a committee of four students and five faculty members that meet weekly starting in February to organize event details. The group focuses on creating an environment where student achievement can be recognized by both peers and industry professionals, Bruner said.
“This is essentially our Academy Awards,” she said. “It’s our opportunity to weigh in and have our alumni provide some judging for the best student work of the year.”
The excitement surrounding the festival stems from the sheer amount of work that students put in throughout the year. While students work on many projects throughout the semester, they can only submit two pieces. This makes the selection process competitive, Anna Porter, a senior film and media arts major, said.
Selections are announced in late February, but award winners aren’t declared until the Friday night of the festival, she said.
Seeing a project air on the big screen after many hours of work is exciting and gratifying, she added.
“When you go to the festival, it’s really fun, because a select few things screen, but you don’t know the things that are going to win, so it’s a little anticipation,” Porter said.
A major draw for this year’s festival is the high-profile alumni returning to teach workshops for current and prospective students in the Art, Film and Media department.
Dave Baker, a 2011 graduate with experience in both nonprofit and for-profit work, and Nick Chamberlain, a 2015 graduate who has worked in visual effects and has credits in “Avatar,” “One Piece” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” are this year’s guests.
These industry professionals often have a profound impact on students, acting as the catalyst for inspiration that can change their career trajectory, Bruner said.
While film festival attendees see a seamless event weekend, a team of student producers spends the weeks leading up to the festival laboring to ensure that every last detail is in place, Kylee Kinsman, senior film and media arts major and festival producer, said. This group manages everything: setting up hosts for prospective students, assisting guest speakers, managing dozens of volunteers, and ensuring the weekend runs smoothly.
“It’s cool to see all of our work come to fruition, because we work for a long time trying to put all the pieces together,” Kinsman said, “and then you get to watch people enjoy it.”
The festival is like the Art, Film and Media department’s version of the Super Bowl, Devin Smith, a senior film and media arts major who is emceeing Envision this year, said. The festival serves as a vital bridge between the department and the rest of the campus community, he said.
The Art, Film and Media department consistently produces high-level work which can be showcased in this event, Smith said. Film students run around campus capturing content year-round, and this event allows for the community beyond the department to recognize their nonstop dedication.
While beneficial for film students’ careers, the festival is guided by a specific mission statement that transcends learning new skills and gaining connections in the professional world. Found on the Envision website, the organizational goal addresses becoming filmmakers who explore life through the lens of Christian faith with artistry and integrity.
“It’s celebrating the good, the beautiful, and the true, and doing that through visual storytelling,” Bruner said.
The main film screening will take place on Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m. in Rediger Auditorium.
