By Evelyn Barge
Living Assistant
It was an evening full of lights, cameras and action at the sixth annual Pepperdine Video Festival March 16.
This year’s festival showcased 24 works, all by Pepperdine students, in five categories: comedic short, news package, documentary, dramatic short and music video.
“Every year the entries get better and better,” said Susan Salas, festival director and associate professor of telecommunications. “I’m so excited for this year’s festival so the University and viewing audience can appreciate the level of work that’s being produced here at Pepperdine.”
The caliber of work is not the only thing that’s improved since Salas instituted the festival six years ago, as University recognition of the festival has also grown.
“This is the first year the awards for the festival will be given at Convo and the first year we’ve had a live screening of the works during Communication Connection,” Salas said. In previous years, a private awards event was held in Smothers Theatre for winners of the festival, but this year the whole student body will be present at Convocation for the ceremony March 31.
“I am really proud, though, because next year the festival will be part of the Mary Pickford Stotsenberg series. To have that recognition is really great,” Salas said.
Freshman Clint Loveness, who entered a number of his films into the festival, said he was excited when he found out that Pepperdine had a venue for him to show his work.
“I’ve been making movies since the fourth grade and it’s really exciting when other people have the chance to see your movies,” Loveness said.
Loveness directed the dramatic short “Backhand,” which was the festival’s only mystery/thriller piece. He said he was particularly proud of the short because “it’s really fun for me to make action movies.”
Sophomore Desiree Pappenscheller also entered her video, which she co-directed with sophomore Jason Eppink, in the best music video category. Entitled “Deaf to the Muses,” their work was not a traditional music video. It was crafted much like an experimental piece with stylized editing and a poetic voiceover.
“I think ‘Deaf to the Muses’ is almost like a music video in the sense that it tells a meaningful story in a short amount of time and emphasizes the emotional appeal with music,” Pappenscheller said.
Another entry in the dramatic short category was “A Fleeting Darkness,” which was entered into the festival by directors Monique Diaz and Micah Kafka. The short told the story of two feuding brothers and how their conflict ended in tragedy.
“We decided to create a serious piece because a lot of students make comedies,” Diaz said. “It’s wonderful to get the reaction of people who see your movie. That’s really why we entered the festival.”
Freshman Laura Dudley, who attended the Pepperdine Video Festival, offered her reaction to the student work.
“I felt like there was a lot of talent that could really be developed. One of my favorites was the animation short ‘Rogue Tomato.’ It was so funny,” Dudley said.
Salas said the real purpose of the festival is to show off the work of Pepperdine students and get exposure for their work. “It’s exciting for me because students are having people actually view their work, not just here at Pepperdine but even in the Malibu community,” she said.
Salas said her favorite part of coordinating the festival is sharing in the magic of movies with her own children. “I love taking my big box of videos home and watching them with my two children. My eighth grader loves all types of films and we get to watch them together. Seeing his reaction and his amazement at the work of college students is really gratifying,” Salas said.
All of the videos shown in the festival will be judged by the audience to determine the winner in each category. Those who missed the live showing of the festival can catch the entire event on Pepperdine’s TV-26. The videos are being screened 24 hours a day through tomorrow.
Viewers who wish to vote for their favorite video in each category can visit the Pepperdine Video Festival Web site and access the official online voting form at www.pepperdine.edu/videofestival.
Submitted March 25, 2004
