Lisa Tervo

Film students were excited to be back in Ethington Theatre on Thursday evening for the GCU Film Festival after it had to be held outdoors last year. The pandemic forced that move and also was evident in many of the 13 films that were shown. “The students really were facing a lot of changes, and the way they worked around it was amazing,” Film Department Director Lisa Tervo said.

Filming has begun on campus for Andrea and Alexandra Boylan’s newest movie, “Identity Crisis.” It contains a faith-filled message and will continue shooting until Jan. 28 as it incorporates GCU students, faculty and alumni into the movie-making process. “It’s just special here,” said Alexandra, who first visited campus last year with her sister. “I feel like the spirit of the Lord is very alive and well at GCU, and we can feel it.”

Seven awards were distributed Thursday night in the GCU Film Festival, held outdoors to celebrate a year’s worth of students’ hard work during a uniquely challenging time. “What I really liked about the films we got this year is that I think they represented making lemonade out of lemons,” Film Department Director Lisa Tervo said. “There’s so much creativity and so many interesting turns that they took to be able to create these films against so many obstacles that it was amazing to see what they were able to do.”

The College of Fine Arts and Production is meeting the effects of the pandemic head-on. Its innovations include outdoor performances, master classes with industry professionals, livestreaming and a little of Disney’s “The Mandalorian” thrown in for good measure. COFAP Dean Claude Pensis calls it a “fun challenge.”

GCU’s Film Festival brought a multitude of different emotions to an audience of eager film viewers Friday night. Within the eight categories, film students highlighted the talent emerging from COFAP’s film department. The top three films within each category, with the exception of music videos with four, competed for the trophy. “It’s a huge honor and there’s a lot of really talented film makers so I’m really blessed just to be able to come away with any win,” Matthew Wagner said about his film’s win in the comedy category.

Film students were given the opportunity to hear words of wisdom and encouragement at this semester’s Digital Film Production Alumni Panel. Alumni Maya James, Sam Erdmann and Athena Bates shared their experiences with the next generation of GCU film students and gave some advice on how to make it in the business.

Justin Sklar, Supervising Editor for Disney’s animated film “Frozen 2,” came to campus Friday morning to share with students some of the ins and outs of what an animation career at Disney looks like. Students were able to ask questions, hear three of the film’s new songs and see clips from the final film.

The College of Fine Arts and Production gives students many opportunities to connect with industry professionals. Students from multiple programs in the college have a chance to engage with guest dance artists and directors, scene designers and a professional drone cinematographer, to name a few. “I think it has to do with our push and our goal of helping our students succeed once they leave here,” said Claude Pensis, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Production. “It’s a matter of really trying to use every tool that we could possibly get to help them make contacts, to help them get to know industry professionals in the Valley and hopefully to be interviewed by them and find jobs.”

Creativity was abundant at the College of Fine Arts and Production’s Film Festival last night. Students from all genres of film flocked to Ethington Theatre to see the winners in eight categories. The one-night event was three nights in the past, and Lisa Tervo, Chair of GCU’s Department of Digital Film Production, said, “I think a lot of people just are really excited and pleasantly surprised by what they end up seeing.”