Justin Chapman | The Echo
The Envision Film Festival brings students opportunities to watch fellow classmate's works and to network with professionals in the film field.
The film festival began yesterday and culminates on Saturday.
"The Envision Film Festival honors aspiring filmmakers whose visual storytelling explores the range of human experience with hopeful vision, artistry, truthfulness and integrity," the festival's mission says.
Assistant Professor of Media Communication John Bruner said a lot of students will interact with many people in the film industry through Envision alone.
In addition to meeting contacts in the industry, students will be able to present films they produced and view films of their peers.
"To do an event that brings people here and gives exposure to our students in ways they would never get without something like this, is great," Bruner said. "I think (it) helps them decide what, to some degree, their career path might be because they're exposed to a little bit more each time."
Today Envision will host three visitors, with each person presenting workshops. These guests include Dan Rupple, Peggy Rupple and Avril Speaks, with each holding unique experience in the film and entertainment industry.
Dan Rupple is the CEO of Mastermedia, an organization which provides spiritual guidance to entertainment industry executives. This non-for-profit holds a distinct approach to spreading the gospel to the entertainment industry.
Rupple's wife Peggy Rupple is the associate director of the Windrider Forum, which is a faith and film forum within the Sundance Film Festival.
The last guest, Avril Speaks, is a film director and producer. Speaks is accomplished as an independent filmmaker with two award-winning feature films.
"We have been trying to get Avril for three years, so we're really excited that she's coming," Assistant Professor of Media Communications Kathy Bruner said. "She's an accomplished and award-winning director, producer, writer (and) editor with about twenty years of making both films and television shows, web series and documentaries, so she's just got an amazing background."
Workshops started this morning at 9 a.m., followed by chapel at 10 a.m. with Dan Rupple as the speaker. More workshops are running this afternoon with the last one starting at 3:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. the Envision Film Festival Screening and Awards will be held in Rediger Auditorium.
High school students and community members are welcomed to come to the screening and awards show tonight. Tickets are free for Taylor students and are $5 at the door for guests.
