On Tuesday, February 22, students and faculty members gathered in the Golden Auditorium to enjoy a variety of short films produced by Colgate students from 2020-2021. The showcase was divided into three film topics, entitled “quarantine diary“, « Free section,” and “Homemade and Colgate Daily Life. The shorts ranged in length, from under a minute to 15 minutes.
Each topic was followed by a short discussion and Q&A session with the filmmakers in attendance. It was an incredible opportunity to hear student filmmakers describe the inspirations behind their films, as well as their creative process.
Sophomore, feature film director and event organizer Vuong Hoang said:
“The event was a great opportunity for filmmakers across campus to come together and celebrate in an intimate and comfortable setting. All of the work shown was amazing and I hope this paves the way for more student-led productions here on campus and helps foster the artistic community here!
The event showcased the hard work of students with a passion for film and included films from multiple genres ranging from comedy to experimental drama to parody. The discussion portion of the event allowed the audience to develop a deeper understanding of the filmmaking process and the hard work involved in developing both the abstract ideas for films and the more technical cinematography.
Moreover, the event was an effective way to reflect on the 2020-2021 school year, as many films dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and students had experiences during this past year.
“It was a great pleasure that after a long hiatus due to the pandemic, we have finally resumed our student video art showcase,” said Assistant Professor of Art and Art History Yi Cui. “Through the works presented, we really see how the students of Colgate have used the moving image as a medium to channel their creativity, to express their joy and their humor, sometimes their pain and their frustration, but also their ideas and their hope !
Sophomore Charlotte Louks noted how the screening inspired creativity.
“I really enjoyed watching everyone’s movies. It’s so great to see the hard work of my peers showcased and I think it’s really inspiring for new filmmakers to see just how possible it is to make your own films,” she said.
The showcase marks the first of what will hopefully be many opportunities for students to share their creative endeavors in the video arts.
“During the Q&A, we also heard such diverse voices from the filmmakers,” Cui noted. “From now on, the showcase will be held regularly. I really hope that more and more students will contribute their work – both coursework or work they have done themselves – to this platform, and that the showcase will become a space for sharing creativity. , inspire each other and build collaboration.”
The event was sponsored by the Art and Art History Department of Colgate, and the series is made possible by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with support from Governor Kathy Hochul and the US Legislature. New York State. If you are interested in events sponsored by the Department of Art and Art History, upcoming events can be found on the CoCalendar of lgate University activities.
