News + Events

02/01/2017

As Wintersession draws to a close, Film/Animation/Video majors working on live-action senior degree project films are deep into production. Jerry Ma 17 FAV and Judy Kim 17 FAV bottom photo, right) are both shooting original dramas set in local restaurants.

Ma’s crew ­– which includes recent graduate Jon Gourlay 15 FAV as his director of photography – recently gathered at the Ripe Tomato in Warwick, RI. Collaborating with professional actors who traveled from NYC for the shoot, they patiently framed close-ups for a confrontational scene in the kitchen.

Working in a real restaurant (vs a staged set) has its challenges, Ma acknowledges. “Let’s hold for tone,” called out sound engineer Jeremy Eisener after a noisy refrigerator compressor finally went quiet.

Kim’s crew struggled with the mix of natural and artificial light at Providence’s Wara Wara (co-owned by alum Nick Mazonowicz 01 FAV). “Let’s try covering the window with silk,” the filmmaker suggested between takes.

“Production will continue through the winter and give way to post-production work in the spring,” notes Professor Peter O’Neill MFA 73 FAV, who advises seniors working on live-action films. Each of the films averages about 15 minutes in length and will premiere at the seniors’ film festival in early May.