On March 11 and 12, Taylor University’s film department plans to take its annual Envision Film Festival online.
“This year’s festival is unique in that it’s all virtual due to COVID, but we think it will be a great learning experience and a showcase of Taylor filmmaking,” said Kathy Bruner, associate professor of communication.
The Envision Film Festival acts as an opportunity for prospective students to see the film department and for current students to learn from workshops and industry professionals. This year, the festival will highlight Destin Cretten, Seamus McGarvey, Margaret (Peggy) Kim and RJ Moeller.
The film festival will open by welcoming prospective students and close with an awards ceremony that honors the talent and diligence of Taylor film students.
“My favorite part of Envision is getting to see all the films that students in the department have worked so hard on over the past year,” said sophomore Sophie Olson. “Film majors labor over their work and put so much effort into everything and I love that this is one of the few times a year where we get to show off all that we've done.”
Awards and the film screening will take place on Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
Envision also typically has the priority of learning from industry professionals. Although guest speakers are normally present for demonstrations and questions, the film department is eager to adapt to the online format.
“COVID-19 is preventing us from bringing our entertainment industry guests to campus, but we’re thrilled to welcome such esteemed artists and professionals via Zoom,” John Bruner, associate professor of media communication, said in a press release.
Kim, the festival’s first guest speaker, is an executive producer known for her work in television, where she has been Emmy-nominated and received a Peabody Award. Senior Abby McCormic, one of the organizers of Envision Film Festival, said she’s looking forward to learning from a woman in the industry, especially a woman of Kim’s caliber.
Because of Kim’s extensive background in cable, she will be presenting about the current environment of broadcast, cable and streaming.
McGarvey, a cinematographer from Northern Ireland, will be speaking about his career making films and bringing a script to life. McGavery has worked in the superhero franchise, filming for the Avengers, in addition to his work on “The Greatest Showman,” “Anna Karenina” and “Atonement.”
Cretten is a film director, screenwriter and producer best known for directing “Just Mercy,” “The Glass Castle” and “Short Term 12.” He has recently completed “Shang-Chi,” one of the newest editions to Marvel. He will be discussing his experience with low-budget films early on in his career and his experiences since then.
Lastly, Moeller, a Taylor alumnus (‘05,) will be speaking about the process of taking a story from start to finish. Using his journalistic storytelling background, Moeller was awarded the no. 1 political documentary in 2019 for “No Safe Spaces.” He is currently based in L.A. and is working as a development executive.
Registration for the Envision Film Festival is available through the corresponding QR code. There is no fee to attend the festival.
