Photo by: Devin Pitts-Rogers

The film and video production program in the newly renamed Department of Media, Film and Journalism Studies is holding auditions for this year’s student-film series.

According to co-producer Kelly Urig, auditioning for the films is a great opportunity for students.

“Students can put this on their résumé. Obviously if they are going into theater there is more of an incentive, and if the films do well and go to film festivals people will be able to look at what they have created.”

Auditions will be held Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m., on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and on Monday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m.  All auditions will be held in the Mass Communications building in room 119.

“There is a fair share of genres,” said Kathryn Duft, the producer of “The Knife,” one of the films being made.  “Mine is more of a horror story, the film Alexis [Ward] is doing is a drama and the Karaoke film is more of a comedy.”

There are 26 undergraduate and graduate students in the film class who are working on the series of short films. The series includes six different films, with one director per film. Three of the directors also wrote the script that their group is working with.

Graduate student Ryan Carroll wrote “Karaoke,” which is being used by two different film groups. The two films, now called “Karaoke Kid” and “Whores and Legends,” will offer different interpretations of one script.

“It’s exciting but it’s a tremendous amount of work,” said Ward, the scriptwriter and director for a short titled “Whiskey Sour.”

The creators of these short films write the script, direct, produce the footage, provide the props and transport the crew to the set location. All of this is done out-of-pocket, with no funds from DU.

Urig said that the auditions would be a  “cold read,” meaning the scripts will not be available to read prior to the audition.

“When they come to their audition they will have about 10 to 15 minutes to practice with the script. It will show the raw, basic talent of the person auditioning in the time that is given,” said Urig.

Urig said that even if students are not chosen for the main roles in the films, there is a high probability that they will be used as an extra or even in future films.

The films will all be 10 minutes in length and will be shot in high definition the last week of March and the first three weeks of April.

The debut will be on campus, free for students, during spring quarter.

For more information or to reserve an audition time, e-mail Urig or co-producer Katie Lincoln at DUstudentfilm2010@gmail.com.

 

The skinny on the shorts

“Whiskey Sour”

Deep in the depths of depressions and whiskey, a man who has lost more than a friend struggles to confront this conscience.

-Director and writer: Alexis Ward

“Whores & Legends”

A frustrated young man finds his voice and an unlikely romance in a night of karaoke rules, legends and whores.

-Director: Ryan Carroll

“The Knife”

A tortured, violated, young woman, who has been pushed around for too long, finally receives an opportunity for ultimate revenge.

-Director: Dylan Lee, Producer: Kathryn Duft

“Nails”

Vietnam vet reconnects with his past in a nail salon.

-Director: Michael Schoenfeld Writer: Ryan Carroll

“The Terrorist”

Mistaken identities due to middle American post 911 ignorance creates an overly awkward gas station setting between people of Arabian and Caucasian descent. -Director and Writer: Frazer Lockhart

“Karaoke Kid”

“A lonely office drone finds friendship in a dive bar after meeting the master in the art of karaoke.”

-Director: Jonnie Sirtack, Writer: Ryan Carroll