The sixth annual Invitational Short Film Expo (ISFX6) was held last Monday evening in the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. Students in PRCC’s Film and Video Technology program premiered seven short films completed over the last two years.
The students rotated production roles gaining experience across the board. A few of the students also acted in the films while other roles were cast in the area. Except for “Matty,” the films were written and directed by Instructor Ronn Hague.
The Expo’s films included ZAMZUMMIN, Cassandra, The Switch, The Water Balloon Affair, Goblin!, Shooter, and Matty.
Sherry McGowan of Poplarville came with several family members to support Gavin Scott McGowan, a student in the program. McGowen said “I liked that the Expo captured many genres of films. Comedies like ‘The Water Balloon Affair’ and ‘Goblin!’ were my favorites. Also, I enjoyed seeing footage taken from the Poplarville area.”
McGowan’s grandmother, Sherlay Stephens of Crossroads, was also thankful to have attended the expo.
“The films were absolutely marvelous,” said Stephens. “I am so glad we could see them.”
Aiden Thomas of Hattiesburg came with his mother Adrienne Evans, a student in the program who was on screen as the principal in “The Water Balloon Affair.” Thomas said, “I liked all of the films. ‘Goblin!’ was the best, especially the ending when the boys get tied up by the goblin.”
Evans will be finishing the program in December.
“I’ve enjoyed being in front and behind the camera,” she said. “The experiences will help to open up more opportunities for me in the industry.”
FILM SYNOPSES
ZAMZUMMIN: The new boy in town is invited to join three others for their role play game group. After they describe fantastical truths about their families, they demand the new boy visit the house of the town’s local legend, Zamzummin. But it is the local legend that gets the last spooky word.
Cassandra: A mom decides it’s time for her son to get a wife and have kids, and to encourage him, she buys an AI cube named Cassandra. Things do not work as she intended.
The Switch: A bully gets a taste of his own medicine when fate switches him into his victim’s body and vice versa. It’s a regular Twilight Zone.
The Water Balloon Affair: Two boys are called to the principal’s office after they soaked her with water balloons dropped from a rooftop on campus.
Goblin!: When a Goblin visits his room, a fourteen-year-old boy, takes matters into his own hands to catch the goblin. But, things don’t work out as intended as the Goblin takes the boy into his own hands!
Shooter: A bully and his victim are called to the principal’s office. Before they arrive, a shooter enters the building and the school goes on lockdown. Locked out of their classroom, the two boys must work together to find a place to hide and a way to survive.
Matty: A teenage foster care system runaway gets caught in a derelict house that is being remodeled by a young carpenter, Danny, working on the house. Danny recognizes Matty as a former neighbor and takes time to catch up on their lives. He learns life has been hard since Matty ran off and that Matty has turned to drugs as “medicine.”
ABOUT FILM AND VIDEO TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
The Film and Video Technology program is in its fourth year at PRCC. Students are prepared for a career in fields relating to film and video including all aspects of film, broadcasting, and live production. A combination of class work and hands-on instruction gives students the opportunity to acquire the background and skills necessary to enter the audio-video workforce.
Students can earn a career certificate, a technical certificate, and/or an Associate of Applied Science Degree. For more information, contact Hague at rhague@prcc.edu or 601-403-1316.
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