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.

Set in 1979, three roommates come to blows after encountering a mysterious machine that informs them that they won't wake to see the next morning.

currently in post-production
Written & Directed by Joel Potrykus
Produced by Breana Malloy

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

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

Two recent college grads enter the workfield seeking gainful unemployment.

26 minutes
written & directed by Joel Potrykus
produced by Breana Malloy

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

Wes is a shy 12 year-old growing up poor during the Great Depression. His response to the bullies in his life is always to turn and run. But when his family's well-being is at stake, Wes can't run anymore.

Directed by Aaron Schuelke

Eight-year old Gabe is struggling to come to terms with his mother's death and trying to connect with his distant father.

Directed by Aaron Schuelke

The continuing saga set at a fictional college in the Midwest, Lucky Jay season 2 follows a professor nearing retirement.

Directed by Harper Philbin

Lucky Jay official site
Behind the scenes

Video unavailable

When a woman purchases an old camera lens from a garage sale, she discovers it holds unseen mysteries.

Directed by Richard Brauer

About the production

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

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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

A vagrant finds a cell phone full of emergency messages and is compelled to find the phone's rightful owner.

Directed by Harper Philbin

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

A college secretary's obsessive quest to bring a student murderer to justice when the police and courts fail. (courtroom/crime drama, inspired by a true story)

Directed by Harper Philbin

Behind-the-scenes documentary

A day on set documentary

Starring Janalee Keegstra.  Written by Elizabeth Grant (2005 GVSU Screenplay Competition winner).  

Directed by Robert Hurst.

Behind-the-scenes documentary

Could Roy be the Second Coming? (comedy)

Directed by Harper Philbin

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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

Behind-the-scenes documentary

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 Philbin

Behind-the-scenes documentary

Pilgrims flock to a country farm when the image of Jesus appears on a porch freezer. (drama)

Written by John Dufresne
Directed by Harper Philbin

Behind-the-scenes documentary

A young boy becomes an overnight detective in order to track down a hit-and-run driver. (drama)

Written by Chris Randall

Directed by Harper Philbin

A suspicious wife uses black magic to spy on her husband. (scifi comedy)

Directed by Harper Philbin

Four very hungry people are shipwrecked on a desert island. (comedy)

Directed by Harper Philbin

Inspired by an art exhibit, three Midwestern schoolgirls explore Hinduism. (coming-of-age)

Directed by Harper Philbin