Recent Student Films

META (2017)

by Connor Gowland '17 and Charlie Losiewicz '19
Psychological thriller/puzzle film

On the brink of a psychological breakthrough, two researchers discover a way to manipulate the past.

Directors' note: We love the puzzle film because it forces audiences to be active, to re-watch the film in order to wrap their heads around it. Our goal was to do it in a unique way. Shane Carruth's Primer was our biggest influence, with cinematic similarities such as the yellow and green color palettes, as well as the use of witty scientific jargon. To us, the most important difference between Meta and many other puzzle films is in its gender representation. The puzzle film commonly deems women as "crazy" or "emotional", resulting in unreliable female characters. Our goal was to empower our female protagonist through writing, directing and editing. We gave Andie more screen time to control the shots and to motivate the edits. We emphasized Andie's internal psychology so that audiences would identify with her rather than stare at her. Throughout the 15+ script rewrites, the weekends of shooting, and the countless hours in the editing room, we found ourselves saying "This would be a good way to go plot-wise... but it'll destroy the politics." In the end, navigating the balance of plot and politics helped us think outside the box to tell an original story that we are proud to share with the world.

Finalist best sci-fi/futuristic short: Alternative Film Festival, Toronto

Closiewi@conncoll.edu cgowlandfilm@gmail.com

In Ten Years (2017)

by Jonathan Goodnow '18 and Sam Simonds '19
Action/Thriller

Kato fights a xenophobic gang of humans in an epic mission to save his brother's life.

Directors' note: We based our style off the action/thriller films of Alfred Hitchcock, particularly where we use dolly zooms to build suspense, as well as Doug Liman, the director of The Bourne Identity, who uses constant camera movement to quickly progress through the narrative. We wanted to take these styles and craft a narrative that raises questions about the treatment of marginalized and othered groups in the United States, as well as challenge the idea of what it means to be a man. We hope that after watching the film the audience can look at themselves and ask, am I as accepting as I think I am? We are particularly fond of the slower moments. The moving camera allowed these moments to maintain the upbeat energy that flows throughout the film, while not rushing to get to the end of the scene.

goodnow.interlock@gmail.com ssimonds@gmail.com

The Groundsmen (2016)

by Trey Chapman '16
Drama

Searching to refuel their stranded dirt bikes, two brothers discover a mansion hidden in the forest.

Director's note: The concept of The Groundsmen was inspired by a weekend I spent visiting the shoot location. I tried to let my experience of discovering the abandoned mansion and surrounding coal town tell me a story, and in that process I felt the location communicate a sense of history, foreboding, and danger. I focused on emulating such an atmosphere through the narrative and cinematography, and hope that the audience will also feel the heavy darkness of a place that has been worn down by the extraction of natural resources. My favorite scene to watch is the climax - you’ll know it’s coming when you hear the music.

Official Selection New Filmmakers Film Festival, New York, NY. Featured on Film Shortage, Pick of the Day

Rchapman@alumni.conncoll.edu https://vimeo.com/treychapman

XXX M.D. (2016)

by Marialyse Martiney '16 and Sean Lee '18
Horror

A group of amateur porn filmmakers break into an abandoned hospital where they are hunted by a doctor with a thing for eyes.

Directors' note: The infrared found footage horror style was mostly unexplored in the history of filmmaking at the College and we wanted to pursue something unique. However, we were both very new to the genre and method and as a result we were mostly learning on the go. We think that our naivete of and to the genre allowed us to bring a surprising tone and approach as the lighthearted comedy breaks down into one of pure terror.

mmartin9@alumni.conncoll.edu slee8@conncoll.edu

Eleven Years (2015)

by Paul Luba '16 and Maddy Harris '16
Documentary

A wife’s journey caring for her husband suffering from Dementia proves how powerful love can remain in times of hardship.

Directors' note: At first, this project was about providing a closer look at how Dementia affects familial relationships. After we found our subjects, however, we were so inspired that we changed the focus to their story of how this horrendous disease has challenged their marriage. We thank Tina for opening her heart and home to us, and for exposing a vulnerability that we believed was important to communicate to viewers. The undying love that Tina and Bob shared truly touched us in a way that we hoped was conveyed through the film.

Finalist - US Hollywood International Film Festival., Official Selection - Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT., Official Selection - New Haven Documentary Film Festival. New Haven, CT.

madelinewh94@gmail.com pluba@alumni.conncoll.edu

Sister (2014)

by Andie Pratt '17
Personal Documentary

A personal documentary exploring autism and my relationship with my brother.

Director's note: My life wasn't the same as my peers since my brother has severe autism. It was difficult to talk about. I made this film to show audiences what my day-to-day home life was like growing up and to show that while my brother and I face our challenges, we are able to overcome them with love and understanding.

Winner – 3rd Place, Trinity Film Festival. Hartford, CT.

apratt1@conncoll.edu

Inside Voice (2016)

by Jillian Noyes '19
Experimental (silent)

"Look into my thoughts... Listen to my story..." A meditation on mental illness, insecurity, and hope.

Director's note: Inside Voice transmutes personal struggles into a visceral experience with universal themes. To me, the appeal of experimental cinema is the absolute freedom it provides. Inside Voice presents me an unique opportunity to speak directly to the audience without risking the didacticism which so often plagues classical narratives on aneurotypicality. To that end, the film combines the autobiographical storytelling of Su Friedrich with the raw kinetic energy of Stan Brakhage's "painter films" to create a wholly unique aesthetic made possible by 21st-century post-production techniques. As kaleidoscopic overlays and vivid color exposures intermingle with the handwritten notes of an unseen narrator, I hope that audiences are gripped by a sense of paranoia and insecurity. Only when the audience “breaks through” the turmoil and embraces their struggles does the barrage of images retreat in the face of self-love, serenity, and ultimately hope.

jnoyes2@conncoll.edu

Palindrome (2016)

by Connor Gowland '17
Experimental (silent)

An experimental passage in the past.

Director's note: Palindrome, though directed by a queer male, explores the subconscious desires of a woman who has fallen victim to the pressure and stigma of the hetero-normative culture she lives in. Inspired by the great work of experimental filmmaker Maya Deren, Palindrome aims to explore the power of regret, and how desire does not dissipate with neglect.

cgowlandfilm@gmail.com

Rust (2014)

by Elaine Frost '14 and Tom Janick '16
Experimental

A film about metal. 

efrost@alumni.conncoll.edu tjanick@alumni.conncoll.edu