Writer/Director Rebecca Thomas coming to UCA

PRESS RELEASE

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION

CONTACT: Christina Madsen, (501) 852-2659; christinam@uca.edu

Dr. Bruce Hutchinson, (501) 450-3419; bruceh@uca.edu

April 20, 2015

WRITER/DIRECTOR REBECCA THOMAS COMING TO UCA APRIL 23

By Carley Conrad

College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office

CONWAY —The University of Central Arkansas will host writer and film director Rebecca Thomas on Thursday, April 23 in conjunction with the Little Rock Film Festival.

Thomas will meet and work with students throughout the day.

Thomas will conduct a first feature master class from 5-6:15 p.m. in Stanley Russ Hall 103. The screening of Thomas’ short film “Electrick Children” will be shown in the same room from 7-8:40 p.m.  A question and answer session will be held afterward until 9:15 p.m.

All residency events are free and open to the public.

Thomas’ debut feature film, “Electrick Children,” earned her a Spirit Award Someone to Watch nomination.  In the film, a 15-year-old pregnant girl leaves an ultraconservative desert cult to seek out the father of her “immaculate conception” in nearby Vegas.

Thomas, who grew up as a Mormon in Las Vegas, attributes her distinct filmmaking vision to her unique upbringing.  She began researching fundamentalist Mormons for a documentary while studying film at Brigham Young University.  She also wrote, edited, and acted in a 13-minute short film called “Nobody Knows You, Nobody Gives a Damn,” which premiered at Sundance in 2009.

“We’re very excited to have Rebecca Thomas coming to UCA,” said Dr. Bruce Hutchinson, associate professor and director of graduate studies in digital filmmaking. “She’s an exciting up-and-coming filmmaker who our students will be able to relate with well.”

For more information, contact Hutchinson at (501) 450-3419 or bruceh@uca.edu.

The UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Communication, Mass Communication and Theatre, Music and Writing. The college’s primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit www.uca.edu/cfac or call (501) 450-3293.

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