GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The world premiere of Grand Valley Pictures' "Story Time" will be shown at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15 at Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy SE, Grand Rapids. The film was locally produced by students enrolled in the Summer Film Project at Grand Valley State University, directed this year by visiting professor Robert Hurst. Open to the public, the $5 admission also includes a screening of the behind-the-scenes "making of" documentary and a reception at 9 p.m. with cast and crew.
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. They also are able to 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 six-week summer sessions.
The "Story Time" screenplay 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.
"Story Time" was produced and directed by Robert Hurst, an independent filmmaker and visiting professor in the GVSU film and video production major. Hollywood cameraman Jack Anderson returned for his 5th Summer Film Project as director of photography. Hurst and Anderson led an all-student film crew made up of GVSU film/video majors.
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 since been screened at many film festivals including the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii, the Durango Independent Film Festival and Crested Butte Reel Fest in Colorado, and Michigan film festivals in Saugatuck, Muskegon, Detroit, and East Lansing. It also received top honors in the Film and Video Competition at the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts 2006.
A Summer Film Project retrospective, screening the films produced over the past four years, is planned for 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, at the newly renovated Grand Haven Area Arts Council's building, 1045 Columbus, Grand Haven.
For more information contact the GVSU School of Communications at (616) 331-3668.
