"Senior films are usually around 20 minutes," Myers said. "It's a lot more intensive than any other film production. They take an entire year to do what's supposed to be done, so their projects are more extravagant and are a little bit more together."
Of the 55 or so submissions taken into consideration for the screening, 14 or 15 make it into the festival. This year's judging panel will be made up of professors, graduate students and a Penn State alumnus currently working in the film industry. Though there is no monetary prize, Myers said the participants are quite competitive, especially because the screening ends a long year of hard work.
Jay Brewer (senior-film and video) and his team are trying something new this year by entering a claymation film titled The Ghost of Sam Peckinpah that satirizes the classic American Western genre.
"With claymation the limits are endless; there are no limits, really," Brewer said.
He said he had worked on his script over the summer, which is not unusual for those working on final year projects.
After professors approve script ideas, it is up to the students to sort themselves into production teams to divide up such duties as directing and sound design.
Student filmmaker Matt Carman (senior-film and video and geography) commented on the importance of choosing the right team.
"You spend hours and entire weekends seeing these people, so you don't want to kill anyone," Carman said. "I was friends with everyone before -- that's easier and harder at the same time. It's easier because you already get along with these people, but harder because you're going to argue."
A crucial step in creating a film is casting the right talent. Both Brewer and Carman said they were pleased with their actors, but commented on how hard it can be to get the word out about casting calls.
"It's tough," Carman said. "Mostly because there isn't a great connection -- there's a gap between the film and acting schools."
Carman's film, titled Underdog which did not make into the festival, is about a competitive hotdog-eating contest, which required a serious investment in certain props.
"For the vegetarian character, we used 'Not Dogs' -- well, we started using them for his character," Carman said, "But then the actor almost started throwing up, so we switched to real ones. We bought several hundred actual hot dogs."
Regardless of how much planning goes into a production, Brewer said the amount of work can be overwhelming.
"It's always an underestimate for money and for time," Brewer said. "I think if you estimate correctly, you're either not putting enough into it, or you're supernatural or something. That means you're not pushing yourself. You need to push your resources."
Even though Carman's crew was disappointed that Underdog did not make it into the festival, he agreed with Brewer that there are other opportunities for their films. Both Brewer and Carman said they are planning on submitting their teams' work to other festivals.
"As a film major, your degree doesn't matter -- this film is what you have to show for it," Brewer said. "That is your degree."
