On Saturday, December 6, the MFA Film Class of 2027 screened their fall semester short films for an excited audience in the Balcony Theater of the UGA Fine Arts Building.
From August to December, each student worked non-stop on their film. They wrote and refined scripts, scouted locations, planned shot-lists, assembled cast and crew, directed and produced their shoot, and edited and sound designed throughout postproduction. Students also worked in key creative roles on each others’ films in positions like director of photography, assistant director, sound mixer, and production designer. The full filmmaking process from start to finish was a mountainous – and often exhausting – challenge, but students were relieved and proud to finally share the results of their hard work with a supportive audience.
Family, friends, cast, and crew gathered to finally watch the students’ completed films, accompanied by a digital program giving a sneak peek of the films that would play. MFA FTVDM faculty in attendance included Professors Nekisa Cooper, Sanghoon Lee, Shandra McDonald, and Jeff Sherwood.
After a brief introduction, the screening kicked off. The 14 short films tackled a wide variety of topics and genres, each showcasing the writer-director’s unique voice. Following the screening, Professor Sanghoon Lee led a brief Q&A session. The students reflected on their hard work, and members of the audience took the opportunity to ask questions about the films and the students’ experiences working on them.
In the order of screening:
The Big Lift by Shagnik Nandi
A young bodybuilder, in the pursuit of the perfect body, descends into the deepest levels of his mind.
Immaterial by Katie Phelan
An elderly woman is visited by a ghost on her last day alive.
Unsaid by Krissy Watson
A young couple circles an unspoken truth as he tries to finally put his feelings into words, only for the moment to slip away in messy misunderstandings.
Fragments by Anthony Peterson
An audio specialist recording the sounds of a park encounters a woman at a bench where memories of his past seem to linger.
The Wrong Note by Valentin Lencina-Rabidoux
A piano recital gone wrong reawakens a prodigy’s love for music.
Stay With Me by Navid Patton
A man in an idyllic sitcom marriage senses something is gravely wrong when strange intrusions force him to confront the dark reality of his circumstances.
Ladies Only by Brianna Barros
After spotting her “almost boyfriend” with another girl, a heartbroken woman rushes away to plan her confrontation, but meets a surprising group of supportive strangers.
L.B. by Wade Cook
Despite living with his conservative Christian parents, Elijah continues to embrace his love of eastern spirituality by buying a small Buddha statue.
Mimic by Amanda Bastin
In the apocalyptic aftermath of the Cold War, a young woman’s daily routine is interrupted by something lurking in her apartment.
Open Cage by Malik Quinney
A woman taking care of her dying father, numb to emotion, finally smiles when she hears the beep of death.
Huff Dreams by Zachary De la Garza
After a dreamlike, laughing gas-addled meet-cute with his dental hygienist, a man decides to see her again, at any cost.
Wash Day by Sydney Wynn
A broken comb and a tense moment with a beauty supply store customer forces Jaeda to challenge her inner critic and decide how she wants the world to see her.
Ships in the Night by Drew Gourley
Alice and her son Stevie struggle to rebuild their relationship in the aftermath of the passing of Big Steve.
History by Chris Conley
When he inherits his late father’s bar, Josiah clashes with the old clientele, a dying business, and a complicated family legacy.
The Class of 2027 is set to return in January to make their Spring films.