January 2010

The November 2009 University of Toledo Department of Theatre & Film production of Machinal was entered for competition in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF).

The following received honors:

Frankie Teuber, (Theatre Major) for Set Design
Meg Sciarini (Film Major) for Video Design
Donald Fox (Theatre Faculty) for Lighting Design

Congratulations everyone on on a job well done!

December 2009

November 2009

Hello,
I'm finally getting around to sending this information to you. 

Essentially, on November 7th, 2009, both my film 1 project 'Vecinos Méconnaissable' and my video 1 project 'Wasted Existence' played at a video gallery in Columbus, Ohio.  The title of the festival was the 2nd Annual Video Film Festival and it took place in the MadLab Gallery there.  It is a fairly new film festival (this was the second year) and as of now doesn't have too much press.  The building itself has a website here,
http://www.madlab.net/MadLab/Home.html

The only real mention of the festival is in their MADLAB GALLERY'S 2009 SEASON which has it listed.

There is a little more information about here at their facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/event.phpeid=310240295011&ref=mf

This was the first little screening that I've ever had my work accepted at and so it was pretty cool.  Each of the filmmakers present were asked to introduce their films, which was also cool.  I'm going to begin submitting these same two pieces to some other festivals, so hopefully I'll have continued success with getting them accepted.

Thanks,

Brady Doepker

August 2009

Branden spent summer 2009 as an intern for MTV in New York. One of the tasks he performed was an on camera appearance in a ring tone ad.

Says Branden, "This played on MTV2, MTVU, MTV Jams, etc.  Basically every MTV Network channel besides MTV itself.  It's only a few seconds but was still pretty cool to have friends calling me up and saying they saw me on TV."

Check it out! Click here

June 30, 2009
Hey Gang!

Just seeing how Toledo is this summer. And was going to tell you a little about NYC! I've experienced so much already.  I can't even begin to email it all to you, but we'll definitely have to talk when I get back.

I've been on two shoots so far for an "Indie Week" theme that will be airing next week on MTV2 as credit squeezes and 15/30 second promo spots.  I got to network with the camera crews, who were brought in from an independent production company.  I exchanged business cards with the owner and will hopefully have an opportunity to get on some weekend sets separate from my internship.  I got a mentor at MTV, who was the writer/director of the spots I was on set for, so I was able to look over his shoulder the entire time.

I've watched a whole variety of edits for different 15/30 second promo spots that show all the drama of the upcoming show and say to turn in. From this, I've been able to view several episodes in advance of different shows airing now.  I've also got to sit in on a lot of different graphics and motion animation work. 

I've got to get involved in a whole variety of other projects as well,
such as voice-overs and classes that improve your skills in  software such as Final Cut and Adobe After Effects.  Have you seen those commercials where they sell a ringtone and you have to text a certain number or word to get it?  Well they use the interns as the talent, and I shot my commercial today.  It should air starting next week on all the MTV Networks for two weeks.

I've seen Francis Ford Coppola, Nick Cannon, Alexa Chung, New York from the VH1 show "I Love New York," a few people from past "Real World" episodes and Sway from "MTV News" all in the building so far. The father of the supervisor for post-production in On-Air Promos works at UT and sent his son the article that was put out in the UT Daily Newsletter sent out by email.  That allowed me to meet him and network with the graphics department, so thanks for that!

Networking is my main goal up here, and I think I'm doing a pretty good job so far building connections.

Hope all is well in Toledo, and I'll have to tell you so much more when I get back!

Branden

August 2009

Meg Sciarini went to the French Riviera for the summer! She was accepted to the 2009 Creative Minds in Cannes Film Program and worked at Cannes as an intern--fabulous news! We are very excited and happy for her.

She was assigned to a company represented, such as Fox Searchlight or Paramount Vintage, performing the usual internship tasks. After accepting the internship, Meg said, "I get to go to the premieres and walk on the red carpet. I get to go to the Masters classes taught by the best directors/cinematographers/producers in the world! Plus, my film will be shown at the Short Corner competition which will be viewed by distribution moguls who will then give us critiques."

"We are also given access to after parties and that availability of the connections alone will be a learning experience."

Meg will be writing an article about her summer in the fall 2009 issue of the UT Alumni News.

Congratulations, Meg!

Learn more about Creative Minds in Cannes 

April 2009

Scott Elbin, a UT junior and film major, presented a paper at the University of Notre Dame this month at the Third Annual Midwest Undergraduate Film Conference. His paper is titled, "An Examination of Society Through the Eyes of a Killer: A Dissection of the 'Businessman' in Mary Harron's American Psycho." Scott also presented a paper at last year's conference as well.  

The Midwest Undergraduate Film Conference offers undergraduate students the opportunity to present papers representing their best work in film and media studies. Students will deliver papers on any aspect of film and media history, criticism, or theory.

Congrats, Scott!

April 2009

Hello Tammy,

I'll be interning in the Acquisitions Department at Samuel Goldwyn Films. I've been told that my tasks this summer will include reading scripts and plays and writing coverage on them, and viewing independent films the company is considering.

--Jason

September 2008

Hello Dyrk,

For the second year running, my script Whiplash advanced to the semi-finals (top 114 out of 5,000+ scripts) of the Nicholl Fellowship competition.  It was in the top 30 last year and also won last year's More Magazine screenplay competition.    

Logline: To bring her brother's killer to justice, a young woman disguises herself as a man and works her way across the country as a stagecoach driver, pursued by a jaded ex-Confederate officer who threatens to expose her true identity -- and steal her heart.  

Lauri

April 2008

Hello Dyrk,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the great production assistant support that we received from UT.  Your students ROCK!
If you were looking for Brett Myers anytime after FRI Feb 22nd he was with us.  He came on as our 2nd PA and worked a lot.  Our field producer depended on Brett a great deal especially on the final day of shooting when our 1st PA dropped out--tired and disgruntled.  Brett exhibited a good amount of maturity at that moment when we needed him to step up to the #1 position. He did it without reserve and executed it brilliantly.  Brett is a special young man.  
We also hired Emily Feller and David Kuznicki for the wedding day and they were invaluable.  I would highly recommend either of them anytime and anywhere.
So there you have it--in the end your students were our best and brightest.  
We very much appreciate all that you did to support the Grand Rapids episode of Bridezillas.  This episode is part of Season V that will start airing in June on the WE Network.

My very best,
Ann Plyley
Production Manager, Bridezillas V
September Films

April 2008

Craig Dirienzo, a junior film major from Campbell, Ohio, has been awarded a USR&CAP (Undergraduate Summer Research and Creative Activity Program) grant to aid in funding his documentary project Combining an Exploration with an Expectation: A Documentary Film on Church Practices and Beliefs.  This is a highly competitive grant, and the first time it has funded an undergraduate film or video project - congrats Craig!  

Well, Chris Lohman also just won an undergraduate research award and will be creating an interdisciplinary piece over the summer relating to both his majors (FILM and PHILOSOPHY).  I'm the faculty mentor on the Film side.  He's a bit shy and told me  that he'd prefer fanfare after he's created something, not when he's been told he has a good idea.  So if this is the 'first time' film projects have been funded, then it’s the first time AND we have two! 

April 2008

David Steingass, a sophomore film major from Defiance, Ohio, has won the Short Prose Essay category in the annual Dean's Essay Prize contest.  This is the second year in a row that a film major has won a Dean's Essay prize - go UTFV!