Student run productions took home several awards at the seventh annual Campus MovieFest (CMF).
“Gifted” received the Golden Tripod Award(GTA) for best production design. This dark comedy was written, directed, filmed, edited and designed by Stephanie Baldwin, FCLC ’16 (who also starred as the main character of the film), proving that she has a lot up her sleeve. She also won best actress for her performance in “Gifted.” Having participated in the filmmaking fun and having been a Campus Finalist all four of her years at Fordham, she is no rookie to CMF. Baldwin’s previous “Part Time Hooligan” productions can be watched on her website which shares the same name.
“We Regret to Inform You” won for best cinematography and directing. This heart-provoking film about a student’s life after loss was driven by dialogue from David Alvarez, FCLC ’19, who played ‘The Deceased.’ Director and writer Emmi Shockley, FCLC ’19, teamed up with cinematographer Luke Momo, FCLC ’19, producer Nevin Kelly-Fair, FCLC ’19 and production manager Kevin Berlanga, FCLC ’19, to transpose raw emotion from paper to the screen. Shockley accepted the GTA for best actor on behalf of Kyle Kelly, who, while not a Ram himself, starred as ‘The Living.’ In addition to visual allure, “We Regret to Inform You” featured two original songs — “Melancholic Meanings” and “8bit Prelude” — composed by Jeremiah Cortes, FCRH ’19, proving the true collaborative spirit behind this film.
The GTA for best story went to “WOMP Studio Session,” an off-beat comedy about an exclusive session at 111.1 wEARGASM radio written and directed by Nick D’Agostino, FCRH ’16. Jans Joyce, 111.1’s on-air talent, discovered WOMP at North by Northwest playing music behind a dumpster fire.
Members of the musical group included Tarn the marble-ist who stomped the occasional can, Fish, a broccoli-ist who has a bone to pick with corporate America, F***ing Karen whose primary contribution was screaming and Aunt Joanne, WOMP’s founder and percussive pasta-ist. Intern Derek was responsible for covering the session despite its unconventional and headache-inducing nature.
“The Sign-In Sheet,” a silent, black and white film starring the cast of Fordham’s Free Pizza Sketch Comedy, picked up the GTA for best editing. Written by Caitlyn Letterii, FCRH ’17 and directed, filmed and edited by Jessica Mannino, FCRH ’17, “The Sign-In Sheet” documented how conniving and comical classmates can be to their innocent and hopelessly unaware professor.
Jury Awards were then awarded to the top four scoring films. Award winners are automatically applied to the Distinguished Film Network, received an authentic film clapboard, a year of Adobe Creative Design and the opportunity for their film to be screened at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
Jury Awards were given to “Gifted,” “Shower Thoughts,” “We Regret to Inform You” and “WOMP Studio Session.” Three of the four films already received a GTA nod (or three) earlier in the evening. The only outlier, “Shower Thoughts,” an inquisitive comedy, was directed by Rowan Hornbeck, FCRH ’18, and Gus Mirabella, FCRH ’17, and written by Hornbeck. Hillary Bosch, FCRH ’19, and John Murray, FCRH ’16, starred in the film as a couple who, while in the confines of their own bathroom, ponder life’s unanswered questions.
Although only 16 movies were shown, more can be viewed on the Campus MovieFest website. Entries ranging from “Connect IV: Back to the Streets,” a local Connect Four team’s battle against the number one ranked opponent to “The Bachelor,” a parody of the ABC reality show, have brought in 218 and 153 views, respectively.
Other popular student creations included “Project 4.0,” about two students desperate attempt to raise their grades before the end of the semester, “The Driver,” about a getaway driver’s failed attempt at arriving on time to a robbery and “The Anti-Christ,” a documentary that followed one Satanic student’s daily routine.
Fordham had 85 teams participate in the filmmaking fun this year. Sixteen of the top films were shown to the student audience. Comedy was the most popular genre, with a majority of the 16 Campus Finalists making everyone with a good sense of humor laugh. Friends of those who made films were eager to see whether or not their favorite would make its way onto the screen, and, when they did, loud cheers ensued.
After all 16 films were played, awards were given in various categories. Films that displayed the best directing, editing, cinematography, story, production design and acting received a GTA.
CMF gives students free tools ranging from cameras and audio gear to MacBooks with Adobe Creative Cloud and one week to shoot and edit their five minute productions. The contest is the brainchild of four students from Emory University who, in 2001, gave their fellow classmates all the equipment needed to create their own short films.
The winners from each college gain the opportunity to attend the CMF Hollywood Film Summit held during the summer. This year’s festivities will take place in Atlanta.
