Now in its 12th year, the unique project offers Grand Valley students in the School of Communications an opportunity to work side-by-side with film industry professionals and use a half-million dollar Panalfex Super 16 film camera, on loan through a generous program with Panavision. They produce a short film, from start to finish, during two 6-week classes, and premiere the finished project at a local theater in the fall.
This year's screenplay, "Story Time," was written by Elizabeth C. Grant of Sherman Oaks, California. Grant's writing credits include a produced one-act play and an article in Playboy. She currently teaches sociology at Chabot College and continues with her screenwriting. Her script was selected out of 68 competition entries from 13 states and three countries. It is a serious, character-driven story that unfolds as the film progresses, about a woman in her 30s who is a recovering alcoholic.
"My connection to the subject of alcoholism in 'Story Time' is indirect," said Grant. "Many people close to me have had a parent who struggled with alcohol * My focus was not on their drinking struggle, but on redemption after the person decided to stop drinking."
"Story time" will be produced and directed by Robert Hurst, an independent filmmaker and visiting professor in the GVSU film and video production major. Hollywood cameraman Jack Anderson has returned for his 5th Summer Film Project as director of photography. Hurst and Anderson will lead an all-student film crew made up of GVSU film/video majors.
The pre-production class time was spent on tasks such as scouting locations, gathering props and auditioning for the 30 cast members. The second class jumped into filming, beginning on June 3, at the Grand Haven pier, with hopes of completing post production work by August 5. That is the date Hurst is scheduled to move for a new position he's accepted at University of Kansas.
"A certain level of anxiety keeps things moving along," said Hurst. "My favorite time is to be on set with the actors. We don't really rehearse much, so it's really fresh, with a lot of energy."
Last year's summer film project was a comedy, "The Gospel According to Roy," produced and directed by John Harper Philbin, from Grand Valley. It has been making the current film festival circuit, including the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii, the Durango Independent Film Festival in Colorado, and Michigan film festivals in Muskegon, Detroit, and East Lansing. It also was one of six winners in the Film and Video Competition at the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts 2006.
Two GVSU student-directors, Andy Fortenbacher and Todd Campbell, won one of three top prizes at the Muskegon Film Festival in February, for their short film "Delirium." Jeremy Howe, who studied film at Grand Valley, is a finalist in the upcoming Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, June 8-11, for his film drama, "Beautiful Loser."
The Grand Valley film & video production major emphasizes the integration of theory and practice, of liberal and professional studies, and of film, video, and digital technologies. The curriculum integrates hands-on production experience with the insights offered by media history, theory and interpretations.
Media may contact Robert Hurst at (616) 331-3607 or [email protected].
