PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
Contact: Dr. Bruce Hutchinson, (501) 450-3419; bruceh@uca.edu
March 18, 2015
MFA THESIS SCREENING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 3
By Hanna Lowery
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY — Three short narrative films, written and directed by University of Central Arkansas filmmaking students, will be screened April 3 in the program’s annual MFA screening.
The screening in Reynolds Performance Hall will begin at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Although the films are unrated, none goes beyond what is considered PG-13.
The three films include “Spoonin’ the Devil”, by Michael Carpenter of Little Rock, about a middle-aged woman who takes a trip to spread her husband’s ashes; “The Whisperers”, a horror suspense film by Jason Miller of Hope, about a 12-year-old boy and his little brother hearing unusual whispers in the stillness of night; and “The Town Where Nobody Lives”, by Al Topich of Searcy, about a struggling married couple who find themselves in a deserted town.
“This year, Michael, Jason, and Al are presenting a diverse range of stories that should appeal to a wide range of audiences,” said Dr. Bruce Hutchinson, director of graduate studies and associate professor of digital filmmaking.
After 60 hours of coursework, the short narrative thesis films are the final requirement for the MFA degree. Students have to write and direct these 20-minute films and defend the quality of their work before a committee of digital filmmaking faculty. It is not uncommon for the films to go on to screen at film festivals across the country.
“The MFA thesis screening is always an exciting event because we get to see the culmination of three years of study and the result of a full year dedicated the making of a film,” Hutchinson said.
UCA’s MFA program prepares students to be complete filmmakers. The three-year, 60-credit hour program is one of the most inexpensive film programs in the country.
For more information about the screening or the UCA Digital Filmmaking program, 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/cfacor call (501) 450-3293.
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