In an industry where Hollywood rules, Oregon filmmakers struggle to make it. For aspiring filmmakers, the opportunities for learning and making connections within the industry are limited here.
Although the University recently started the Cinema Studies program, it still hasn’t established a professional film school where students can not just study, but create film.
Seniors Truman Capps, a journalism major, and Dylan Sylwester, a cinema studies and journalism double major, saw this missing in the University and decided to create Oregon Filmmakers Connection, a student group that can fill the gap for students wanting to work in the film industry.
“Getting into films is all about making connections,” Sylwester said. “(Students) needed an excuse to talk to people … a club to share our connections with people.”
While Sylwester was working at the School of Journalism of Communication’s equipment checkout over the summer, he came up with the idea for the group after he met many like-minded, film-loving students.
He said student filmmakers wanted an outlet, a place where they could share connections, talk to each other and learn professional skills, as well as set up a good network and foundation for students to pursue their careers after they graduate.
“This is the only place to go where you can put your vision of movie making,” he said.
The group began in the fall and has brought numerous guest speakers from the film industry to Skype with the group.
Capps, who interned in Los Angeles last summer, used some of his connections in the industry to bring in the speakers. Other group members also try to bring in as many people from the industry as they can.
Last term, they Skyped with film editor Joe Hutshing who worked with Cameron Crowe on “Almost Famous” and won an Academy Award for his work on “JFK.”
Another speaker they Skyped with was actor Michael Cassidy, who has appeared on TV shows such as “The O.C.” and “Smallville.”
OFC tries to bring in various speakers working in different aspects of the film industry such as editing, directing, acting or composing, as well as experts of the industry and professors.
Capps said guest speakers are more than excited not only to talk about themselves, but also to give advice to future film gurus.
“Karma tells them to give back,” Capps said.
But the objective of the group is not just to make connections with people already in the industry, but with one another.
A lot of what the group does mirrors what happens on a real film set: learning to trust and cooperate with one another.
Group members also use meetings to bounce ideas off one another and get their peers’ opinion on their ideas or films.
Currently, members are working on story pitches for this year’s Adrenaline Film Project, a national filmmaking competition.Capps and Sylwester, who are working on a short film, said they’re working with some of their OFC connections.
“There’s so much talent within the group; it’s a waste not to make a short film,” Capps said.
Because there is no institutionally funded program at the University to get film experience, Sylwester said it takes a lot of personal initiative to get that experience. However, he and Capps encourage students interested in films and filmmaking to come to the group to get experience and make connections.
“Ordinary people can make it,” Capps said. “They think there’s no career (for them) … but there’s plenty of opportunities.”
Sylwester said there’s a growing collection of talented, ambitious filmmakers on the campus.
“Eventually, the UO will be on the map,” he said.
[email protected]
New student group creates reel opportunities for budding filmmakers
Daily Emerald
February 19, 2011
0
More to Discover