Film and Video - Summer Film Archive
The Summer Film Project, founded in 1995, brings students, faculty and industry professionals together on the production of a film. The preproduction and filming takes place in the summer session. The fall semester is devoted to postproduction where students complete the film and prepare for its premiere at a local movie theatre and enter it into film festivals across the country. See these award-winning films as well as the stories behind each production.
2024 - Pets
A couple can't escape the obsession and paranoia of technology while on a vacation in the woods.
22 minutes
written & directed by Joel Potrykus
produced by Breana Malloy
2023 - Pear
A widow finds that not much has changed after growing her husband back from the dead.
36 minutes
written & directed by Joel Potrykus
produced by Breana Malloy
2022 - Unemployees
Two recent college grads enter the workfield seeking gainful unemployment.
26 minutes
written & directed by Joel Potrykus
produced by Breana Malloy
2021 - Thing from the Factory by the Field
A band of awkward teenage metalheads get more than they bargained for when they accidentally kill something during an initiation ritual.
26 minutes
written & directed by Joel Potrykus
produced by Breana Malloy
2019 - Driftless
When a state government shutdown closes parks on 4th of July weekend, the Park Rangers of Driftless State Park, led by Nova Abbey, must protect the park from the people, and the people from one another.
75 minutes
written by John Dufresne & Harper Philbin
directed by Harper Philbin
2018 - Inheritance
2017 - For the Birds
2016 - Lucky Jay: Season 2
2015 - The Lens
2014 - Lucky Jay
Set at a fictional college in the Midwest, Lucky Jay is a comedy series about assistant professor Dr. Jay Calder as he approaches his big tenure review.
Directed by Harper Philbin
Lucky Jay official site
Behind the scenes
2013 - The White Bag
Women over 50 are generally invisible in our society. The White Bag explores what happens when an elderly lady--tired of being ignored--stands up for herself.
Written and directed by Marie Ullrich
2012 - Realizism
Home foreclosure drives a sheltered suburban family into the thick of the urban jungle where a latter-day Robin Hood helps them uncover a vast land-grabbing scheme.
- Directed by Mitch Nyberg
2011 - Message Sent
A vagrant finds a cell phone full of emergency messages and is compelled to find the phone's rightful owner.
-Directed by Harper Philbin
2010 - Horizontal Accidents
A week in the life of the bargain-basement Adamac Funeral Home and the two modern-day grave robbers who work there. Screenplay by Tom Castillo. Based on the short story by Michael Salisbury.
-Produced by Kim Roberts
-Directed by Tom Seidman
2009 - The Darkroom
John, a divorced, old-school photographer, who has spent his life dedicated to the discipline of his darkroom and art of photography, finds himself fighting for his craft and ultimately his livelihood.
-Written and directed by Z. Eric Yang
2008 - Walter's Wife
Walter's Wife is a dark and highly visual tale about a crumbling marriage as seen from the perspective of a young boy. Written by GVSU student, Joshua Kinne. Several GVSU alumni play major roles in the production including director Andy Fortenbacher, '07; executive producer Jim Schaub, '93 & '00; producer John Otterbacher, '03 & '05, and director of photography Michael Bosman, '07.
-Directed by Andy Fortenbacher
2007 - To Live and Die in Dixie
To Live and Die in Dixie is the first feature-length motion picture ever produced by a university in Michigan. Winner of Best Thriller Feature at the 2008 Illinois International Film Festival and Best Feature at the 2009 Flint Film Festival.
-Directed by Harper Philbin
2006 - Story Time
Starring Janalee Keegstra. Written by Elizabeth Grant (2005 GVSU Screenplay Competition winner).
-Directed by Robert Hurst.
2005 - The Gospel According to Roy
The Gospel According to Roy: The Second Greatest Story Ever Told
- Directed by Harper Philbin
2004 - A Moment Of Grace
A young American doctor working in the midst of the Middle East conflict in a Palestinian refugee camp clinic risks her life to save the life of an unborn, premature baby.
- Directed by Alba Francesca
2003 - Flickering Blue
A lonely old man turns off his TV and ventures out on a walk through the city in an attempt to reconnect with people.
** Starring James Karen **
- Directed by Harper Philbi
Watch the behind the scenes video
2002 - The Freezer Jesus
- Written by John Dufresne
- Directed by Harper Philbin
2001 - The Lucas Files
- Directed by Harper Philbin
2000 - With You Always
- Directed by Harper Philbin
1999 - Survival of the Fattest
- Directed by Harper Philbin
1998 - My Life Among Gopis
- Directed by Harper Philbin
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