If you saw The Wedding Crashers for the gagillionth time last weekend, you might be unaware that other options are available. The University does not just offer students the film series; it allows them the chance to make films of their own.
The Independent Student Film Production Co-op (ISFPC) is a student-run organization that produces films written by student filmmakers. Last year the Co-op made a 16mm titled The Astronomurder, written by Ian Beardsley ’07 and directed by Sarah Lipkin ’06. The film premiered Monday night in the CFA.
Since 2004, every fall the ISFPC has a screenplay contest. The winning submission, like Astronumber, is produced in the spring. Last year, in addition to Astronomurder, the Co-op shot Donkey Trash. The film, written by Mike Melmed ’06 and directed by Libby Gills ’06, features Austen Purnell ’08 and was shot digitally. In the spring of 2004, the Film Co-op shot Milton Bradley’s Life, a 16mm production written by Jordan Schulkin ’06 and directed by Gianna Sobol ’06.
“The screenplay committee chooses about five screenplays, and the ISFPC board members choose a director with the strongest ideas about what to do with one of the screenplays,” said Jeremy Marks ’07, vice president of the Co-op.
According to Member-At-Large Ben Crane, screenplays should be emailed to Colin Theys by Oct. 31. The director and the screenplay will be chosen this semester and filming will begin in the spring, pending vast pre-production details.
Although a six-person board leads the group, most of the interviewed board members stressed the cooperation between the regular ISFPC group members and the board members.
“I wouldn’t label the board a ‘ruling body’ or ‘hierarchy,” Denis said. “The essential role of the board is to keep the group alive: making sure the screenplay contest is initiated, gaining the interest of incoming freshman, going to the WSA and getting approved as a student group.”
Working on these films is an opportunity to gain real world experience in film production. Marks said that the Film Co-op wants to start a film workshop in addition to its production practices, so that new members can learn how to use the equipment. The group accepts all students.
“Even if you’re not a film major, you can get something out of this group,” Marks said.
For non-film majors, this is one of the only venues on campus for working on films.
“The group is important because it gives anyone interested in learning about making low-budget films a chance to do so, especially for those who don’t plan to major in Film Studies,” Denis said.
According to Marks, ISFPC is mainly made up of freshmen with an even ratio between frosh and upperclassmen. He described this ratio in a positive light, emphasizing how it helps to promote upward mobility within the structure of the Co-op.
“We can partner upperclassmen with freshman who haven’t had experience with film before and they can do the same the following year or the year after that,” Marks said.
Having lots of freshmen around might also ensure the longevity of the Co-op.
“I think the goal of the Co-op is to continue producing films outside the film department so that the positions in the crew are available to majors and non-majors alike,” said Colin Theys ’07, secretary of the Co-op.
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