Last Thursday, D. H. Hill Library hosted the Student Short Film Showcase, a film festival that NCSU Libraries has put on annually in order to provide film students a way to showcase the short films their work. The films showcased ranged from animation to experimental films. The students who have produced these films put a lot of time and effort into their craft. The event was held as a collaboration between NCSU Libraries, the Department of Communication and the Department of Art and Design.
Many of filmmakers who participated in this event created a film of their own, though many also helped with the production of other films showcased at the event. One of these filmmakers was Olivier Metzler, a fourth-year studying communication media.
“I participated in [the production of] Hands, Stump and my own, which was Bilal,” Metzler said.
In any production, whether it is short, long, filmed or animated, a substantial amount of work and effort is needed in order to reach the final product.
“It takes a good team, preparation and a lot of post-production,” Metzler said. “It also takes openness because you have to be able to be open to what’s going to happen. [When filming] nothing goes as planned so you have to be spontaneous and be able to respond to the situation when directing.”
The films in the event ran anywhere from just under one minute to four minutes long and came in a variety of genres such as horror, comedy or informational. But every audience member has a favorite that touched their heart. Sam Aussieker, a first-year studying business administration, spoke about his favorite film shown at the event.
“They were all really good, but I liked Hands [the most],” Aussieker said.
Hands was a music video that provided a look at a person with a passion for singing. This film also had a twist at the end that gave the audience a laugh.
The attendees that came to the event had many reasons for attending, whether it was an interest in filmmaking or just plain curiosity. Divya Lipscomb, a first-year studying marine science, was one of the students at the event.
“I heard about it in the Film Studies newsletter and I thought it would be cool, because in the future I would like to make some [films],” Lipscomb said.
The Student Short Film Showcase is an event that many deem important to a lot of the NC State community, whether it’s the audience enjoying the showcase or the students showing what work they’ve done over the course of the semester.
“I think it’s important to showcase what the students are making, kind of show all the hard work and give [students] some exposure,” Aussieker said.
Giving film students a place to show their work allows them to get feedback on their work, and perhaps even inspire audiences to create their own films, as mentioned by Lipscomb.
“I think it’s good to give students the ability to showcase their artwork, and I think it’s important for people to be able to see that artwork and maybe be inspired,” Lipscomb said.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, and the Student Short Film Showcase is no exception. The incredible work that NC State film students put into their product can be the reason that others want to try out filmmaking for themselves. For any students wanting to do filmmaking in the future, Metzler has some advice on how to get started in the filmmaking world.
“I would say don’t be shy, because if you have an idea just start with that,” Metzer said. “Start small; sometimes you also don’t have to have the whole idea. It’s okay if you have a little piece, because if you start with that little piece it might lead you to a bigger piece of the puzzle.”
