Last spring, students flocked to the MPR for a screening of the Independent Student Film Production Co-op’s (ISFPC) first film, “Milton Bradley’s Life.” Independence is key to the group’s mission of giving both film majors and non-film majors a chance to make movies in an entirely student-run forum.
This year, the ISFPC plans to expand their output with three new productions; at least one will be filmed digitally and one shot on 16 mm film.
“Mostly new people, and some sagely veterans, will be getting a chance to work on films and provide direction to the group,” said Jordan Schulkin ’06, a film major who won the ISFPC’s first screenplay contest with the script for “Milton Bradley’s Life.” “I’m busy with thesis films but intend to pitch in where needed. Now that the group has momentum, the efficiency and quality of the productions should only increase.”
According to co-organizer Julia Silbergeld ’05, the current screenplay competition is for a digital movie to be made this semester.
Katie Goldschmidt ’05 originated the ISFPC last fall, in response to what she and other students saw as a need for more hands-on filmmaking opportunities.
“The film co-op was created because there are very few opportunities for non-film majors and underclassmen to work on films,” Silbergeld said. “Furthermore, while a lot of students have digital cameras and editing software, most students don’t have the money or training to work with actual film. The co-op was created to make 16mm film production available to all Wesleyan students.”
Alex Uhlmann ’07, the ISFPC’s current president, wants a wide range of students to get involved.
“Wesleyan is a school full of diverse interests, hidden talents, and creative individuals,” Uhlmann said. “Essentially ISFPC intends to employ our schools writers, comedians, painters, musicians, architects, athletes and others all under the umbrella of film. People can take part in ISFPC in whatever manner that interests them.”
Jeni Morrison ’05 is one student for whom the ISFPC led to new experiences in filmmaking. Morrison worked as a gaffer on “Milton Bradley’s Life.”
“I had never done that before, and being thrown into film lighting, especially having to shoot on color, was a really educational experience,” Morrison said. “Last year there was a lot of preplanning involved, but there was definitely a feeling of winging it, because we had so much to learn. I also think that because [the ISFPC is] organized as a co-op, everyone involved had a strong personal stake in it, and that’s a great feeling.”
Although the ISFPC works and is funded independently of the film department, students in the co-op still met early on with film professors to clarify the group’s mission. Schulkin was among the student delegates.
“The film department was initially very wary of us,” Schulkin said. “But after Katie, Gianna [Sobol, who directed ”Milton Bradley“], and I met with the faculty, their fears were assuaged. Our group would be a way for filmmakers to hone their craft and for people outside the major to make films—a winning combination.”
Students with film department training have also been useful to the ISFPC, Morrison pointed out.
“While we’re not associated with the department, having some ‘Sight and Sound’-trained students was helpful on last year’s film,” she said. “And, maybe it will be beneficial for students who want to major and shoot a thesis film to get additional production experience before senior year.”
Students interested in entering the contest should submit a script for an 8-10 minute digital film to rbradley@wesleyan.edu by Oct. 6.
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