The rules were simple – produce a short film of 10 to 20 minutes that would be PG-13 or below.
Four Media Arts – Digital Cinema & Media sophomores showed their short films on the big screen at Norfolk 7 on Saturday, May 3, with those parameters in mind.
The writer-director students were Charlie Henkel, Norfolk, Adin Evins, Hartington, Jake Ponto, Battle Creek, and Nathan Sievert, Norfolk.
Drew Dolezal, Northeast media arts instructor, said the students began working on their scripts during the fall semester, but as was shared with the audience after their films were shown on the silver screen at Norfolk 7, those plans were quickly changed.
Henkel said one of the factors during filming that was tough to account for was Nebraska wind. One of the days, for example, he planned to do some filming outside and it rained. Just about all the students said the wind in Nebraska also altered locations and thus, dialogue.
The students’ films included a documentary, horror film and what could be perceived as dark themes. There was a directors’ Q & A immediately following the films, led by Instructor Drew Dolezal, with questions from the audience.
Among the questions was why the students didn’t make their films more cheerful and why there weren’t women in them.
Given their budgets, the students said they appreciated any help they could get, and it was sometimes hard to find people who would do it. The students said they didn’t necessarily intend the movies to be dark, but it was what interested them.
Short-film premiere
Drew Dolezal (far left), media arts instructor, and sophomores who took a cinema and media class discussed their films following a short-film premiere at Norfolk 7 Theatre earlier this month. (Northeast Community College)
