Deirdra Harris Glover
MC Contributor/Staff Writer
Many college students are de facto filmmakers, documenting their lives via Instagram or Snapchat. However, some students at Jackson State University are looking to tap into film studies and production on campus, and even reach out into Mississippi’s blooming film community.
Jackson State University sponsored last week’s Mississippi International Film Fest (MIFF), a festival started by Edward St. Pe’, filmmaker, meteorologist and JSU broadcast meteorology professor.
MIFF, in its sixth year, offered viewers a state premiere of “Dixieland” an earnestly bleak Mississippi-made film starring Chris Zylka, Riley Keough, and Ridgeland native Faith Hill.
MIFF also gave attendees a glimpse “Off-World,” with documentaries from WKNO (a Memphis, Tenn. public television affiliate) and UFOlogist Linda Moulton Howe.
MIFF hosts actors and filmmakers from around the world, but St. Pe’ also includes new or student filmmakers.
“I think that if a guy or girl is taking the time to direct, write, shoot, act—then it’s my responsibility to make sure that film is represented in my festival,” said St. Pe, who recently donated his extensive film library to JSU as a student resource.
Faculty members are not the only interested parties bringing learning opportunities to campus. Breyionna Flowers, a senior mass communication major from Little Rock, Ark. has organized a low cost five-day film workshop, even absorbing the costs of facilities rental out-of-pocket.
“I’m willing to do whatever. I really want us all to do great and learn as much as we can before we graduate,” said Flowers.
Flowers stated that she plans to become a professional filmmaker and cites influences in African and Native folklore and mythology, neo-realism, and even science fiction as her inspirations.
Workshops, scheduled from Nov. 30-Dec.4, will cover film pre-production, camera use, lighting design, audio design, and post production. Students will put their skills to use in short films produced in spring, and submit them to film festivals.
Flowers hopes that offering the training at the low cost of $5 will give area high school and college students the experience and confidence to produce their own films.
To register for the workshop sponsored by Flowers, email: BreyionnaNashay@yahoo.com.
Others seek a less intensive relationship with film.
Orionna Brumfield, a senior mass communication major from Brookhaven, Miss., became interested in filmmaking after attending a presentation by actor, director, and producer Tim Reid, in the spring of 2014 in the Mass Communication department.
“I’ve always been fascinated by films and I wanted to know how they were made. When Tim Reid came to JSU offering a free 2 week film course last summer, I was hooked,” said Brumfield.
Brumfield stated that the organization would give students who are interested in the filmmaking business (writing, directing, producing, etc.), the opportunity to get experience in the film industry before they pursue it.
“Right now, we have 10 students involved, the required number to start an organization. We hope to learn and create successful films with the goal of submitting them to surrounding film festivals,” said Brumfield.
The group is waiting on approval notification from the Division of Academic and Student Affairs and hopes to become active in spring 2015.
