Student film festival to bring roars of laughter

By: Kyle Hansen

Posted: 5/10/07

San Jose State University senior Jennifer Corker said that a film festival at 7 p.m. today in the University Theatre will give her an opportunity to see if anyone laughs at her work.

"As a director and a writer, it is nice to have my film shown in front of an audience,"

Corker said. "I generally write comedy so I can see when they laugh and don't laugh. I get feedback and see how the audience reacts."

Corker, an art major and film minor, wrote and directed a short film, "Steve's Room," which will be shown during the Film Production Society Film Festival.

"It is really rewarding to see something go from a few pieces of paper to a film that you can watch over and over again," Corker said.

Film Production Society President Dave Hawkey said that 11 student films will show during the festival. The films, all less than 10 minutes long, include thrillers, comedies, dramas, romantic comedies and a documentary.

Hawkey said he is really looking forward to the documentary, which is by a graduate student and is about undocumented workers in downtown San Jose that sell ice cream.

While the television, radio, film and theatre department has a film festival every year, this is the first time the Film Production Society has put on the event.

The society was founded last semester to help students that are interested in film work together, and is open to all majors on campus, Hawkey said.

"The mission of our club is to provide support and production services to film students at San Jose State," he said.

Corker said she has gotten a lot out of her involvement with the group.

"It is nice because it is creating a community for the film students," she said. "They have done a really good job of finding opportunities to make money and get more experience.

"It is really a collaborative thing, which I think what I enjoy the most from the process," Corker said.

Hawkey said the society has worked with other groups on campus to film events so the groups have a record of the occasion.

"We have been able to network and help other organizations," Hawkey said. "We help others with filming their events, and we hope that they will show up and support our events."

"We also learn by working on different events and productions," he said.

Andrew Hellesen, a junior radio, television and film major, said he has enjoyed being part of the society and helping to put on the festival.

"The club is a great thing to be a part of," Hellesen said. "It is a good way to bring everyone together and help each other with projects."

Hellesen said while he did not write or direct a film for the festival, he helped in the making of a couple of other films that will be shown.

"It is exciting to be working a festival that is run by students, for students and showing student work," he said. "It's a way to raise awareness about the club and to show student work."