Today’s guest post is written by Ed Cabellon. Ed is Director of the Rondileau Campus Center and has worked at BSU since 2006. Connect with him on Twitter, LinkedIn, or his blog!
Today at noon in the Campus Center Lower Foyer, Campus Movie Fest (CMF) launches for the fourth year in a row at Bridgewater State University. Over the last three years, CMF has grown exponentially in interest, excitement, and overall quality of student films. When the Campus Center staff and I first decided to bring CMF to BSU, many doubted its ability to succeed since we did not have a formal Film Studies program. Four years later, the CMF program is better than ever, with even more interest and excitement!
This event is the most unique college event I’ve ever worked with. It allows students to work together in teams intensely for one week on a common goal: the creation of a five-minute film. The competition aspect coupled with previous regional and national success fosters an exciting week of filming and editing. The whole process culminates at the Campus MovieFest BSU Finale on April 20th in the Campus Center Ballroom, where the top 16 films will be screened and top honors are given out. Last year, the Ballroom was “standing room only”, packed with over 500 people!
This year, the competition is structured differently. In past years, winners from the BSU CMF finale would move on to the CMF Northern Regional Finale in New York and compete against other regional schools to move on to the CMF International Grand Finale for the chance at national recognition and honors. This is how three previous BSU films won 2009 National Best Comedy, 2010 Regional Best Drama, and 2010 National Best Comedy. This year, there will be no Regional Finale so the winning films from our BSU Finale will be shown at the 2011 International Grand Finale in Hollywood! The competition will be strong, but I am confident in our students that we have another impressive showing!
Here are some other things to consider if you are participating in CMF this year:
- While you and your team can walk up to register on the spot today, you should register your teams online before picking up your equipment.
- Please pick up your equipment (Macbook, high definition video camera, etc.) from CMF staff today in the Campus Center Lower Foyer, beginning at noon. Get there as soon as possible!
- Filming and production will take place starting today through Tuesday, April 12. All films and equipment must be turned in by 6pm on Tuesday, April 12.
- Anyone working on production of the film (directing/editing/camera work/sound/special effects) MUST BE from the BSU community (students, faculty, staff); actors can be brought in from outside of BSU; and copyrighted material may not be used without written permission.
- CMF Staff will be onsite this week and next week to give students training on the equipment and how to edit your film in case you need formal training!
It’s not too late to be a part of Campus MovieFest! Grab a few of your friends, come down to the Campus Center today, and tell your story in a five minute film! Do you need some inspiration? Feel free to check out all of the BSU films from the last three years of competition!
This event would not be possible this year without the support of the Student Government Association and the Student Affairs/Student Support Fee. The Campus Center has also gotten support in the past from Program Committee and the Office of Undergraduate Research as well.
Whether you make a film or not, you are all invited to the Campus Center on Wednesday, April 20th at 7:00pm where we will celebrate the work of our student filmmakers and award top honors to the best films from this year’s Campus MovieFest! See you there!
Have you ever made a film before? Have you ever been to a CMF Film Finale here at BSU? What are you overall impressions of Campus MovieFest?
