On Tuesday, April 30, California Lutheran University’s Film and Television Department participated in a student showcase where students in the Post Production and Distribution class presented their short film projects.
The showcase took place in Ahmanson Science Center’s Richter Hall and included short films titled “The Nark Knight,” “Dracula’s Apartment,” “Bloom,” “Versions of Me,” and “Stitched.”
The event took place from 5-7 p.m. with a reception, greeting, film screening, and question and answer session with the crew that worked on each short film.
Associate Professor of Film and Television Mahmoud Salimi said the groups of students have been working on their projects for almost a whole year.
“The first part was fall of 2023, it was all the planning, we planned and shot it and put together our short trailer at the end. And then the class this semester was fully editing everything, making sure all the color was right, all the sound was in place and anything else that we needed to put together and make sure it was all finished,” Senior Ashley Darr said.
While working on her group’s short film she said she was motivated to get everything finished and prepared for the event to see how everyone responded to the work she helped create.
“Honestly, like just when it’s all done, you know what I’m saying? The question you keep going in your head is like ‘Okay what am I doing? Am I doing the right thing?’ and then when it all comes together you’re like ‘Okay yeah no we did it right, I don’t think I would’ve done anything different,’” Darr said.
Salimi said the turnout for the student showcase almost had a full house with many family, friends, students, and faculty participating in both the production of the short films and the screening. He said with student showcases and film and television panel discussions the department has been able to engage a large community stemming outside of just students and faculty.
“Five great films were shown and it’s very promising, very uplifting to see that there is support and commitment. And it gives us hope of how the future for this department looks like,” Salimi said.
