Three Taylor alumni will see their names as the credits roll at Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis Oct. 19-21, as a documentary they produced is featured on the big screen for the first time.
The 12-minute documentary "One Split Second" was put together by three media communications majors during the 2011-2012 school year as a class project.
Students Rikki Henry, James Dickinson and Josh Giuliano directed, produced and edited the film, respectively, although the team said their official roles overlapped most of the time.
"It was more of a collaboration," Henry said. "The three of us, we all melded."
The documentary tells the story of Leah Hoskins, a Marion resident and cancer survivor who founded an organization called The F.I.L.M. Project in 2011, Henri said.
The project provides family portraits to those suffering from terminal illnesses.
Photographers across the country have volunteered as part of the project, offering families memory-making photo sessions that will endure in spite of suffering.
The film was named Best Documentary at Taylor's Envision Film Festival in 2012.
"Hoskins is a great example of how one person can take the gifts God gives her and use them for the sake of others," said Assistant Professor of Media Communication Kathy Bruner. "Both her photography and her life are beautiful testimonies, and the student filmmakers in my documentary class were able to capture that."
The team immediately connected with Hoskins' story when Bruner suggested it to their class as a film topic. All three had been personally affected by cancer, but Dickinson, whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, was particularly drawn to the story.
"The hook was set in me when I heard about creative work, photography, in the realm of helping people," Dickinson said.
"It immediately caught all of our hearts," Henry added.
The team chose the title "One Split Second" because it illustrated the goal of The F.I.L.M. Project, Dickinson said. "(Hoskins) talked about how the photographers capture one split second in time," he said. "We thought there was a lot of power behind those three words."
As part of the filming process, the team accompanied a ten-year-old cancer patient named Brie to her family portrait session. Henry said Brie inspired her to be thankful for what she has and to focus on the positive. "She's such a strong girl," Henri said. "It just boggles my mind."
Bruner submitted the documentary to the Heartland Film Festival in June but did not inform the team until it had been accepted. "Heartland is an increasingly difficult festival to get into," Bruner said. "The honor of having screened at Heartland is an indicator of both great storytelling and great production skills."
Henry said the news that "One Split Second" had been accepted came as a surprise. "I never really thought a film of mine would be accepted by a film festival," she said.
Dickinson said the film will be helpful in getting their names out in the film industry. However, he said he was more excited for The F.I.L.M. Project than for his professional success. "This is a major victory for them," he said. "We're commanded by Christ to use our gifts and talents to further the kingdom of God, and I think that we should all be actively seeking ways in which to give back."
Bruner organized a campus van to transport students to a screening of "One Split Second" at the festival on Sunday afternoon. Those interested in joining the group should contact Kathy Bruner.
