Shorttakes, which takes place tonight for the 13th time, is an
established UCLA tradition. But don’t think the on-campus
film festival is the same after all these years.
This year marks some important changes for the annual highlight
of Campus Events’ film division. The event will still
showcase the artistic output of college students, but this year,
there is a chance the filmmakers could get an audience far wider
than in the past.
Specifically, a deal is in the works that would allow the
Sundance Channel to put Shorttakes finalists’ films on
on-demand cable, so viewers with the service could access the films
at any time. Although an arrangement has not been finalized,
it’s difficult for those involved to contain their
enthusiasm.
“I think at this stage of the game in the
filmmakers’ careers, getting exposure is a big thing,”
said Steven Evans, account vice president at the Sundance Channel
and also a judge at this year’s Shorttakes. “So
hopefully as some of these new platforms (such as on-demand cable)
develop, it’s going to give people in the business a chance
to see the work of these students and hopefully be good for (the
students’) careers.”
The deal is being facilitated by Pete Stone, a member of Theta
Chi’s alumni association, Beta Alpha. The organization is a
major sponsor of Shorttakes, and Stone has helped the festival
improve in other ways in the past, such as bringing in judges from
the entertainment industry. But the cable deal may be his biggest
coup yet.
“Steve Evans suggested to have an opportunity for
finalists to get their films shown on TV,” Stone said.
“Not only does it give (the finalists) exposure, it validates
them as filmmakers. (Shorttakes) is really appealing because
it’s kind of the film festival for everyone. You don’t
have to be a UCLA student; you don’t have to be a film major.
Anyone who has something to say and is an undergraduate or a
graduate student can submit a film.”
Stone discussed a possible arrangement with Campus Events, the
Sundance Channel and Time Warner, which both owns the Sundance
Channel and is set to take over all of cable provider
Adelphia’s properties in Southern California in the near
future. So according to Stone, it makes sense for Time Warner to
want to build relationships with new neighbors such as UCLA.
“(Time Warner) as an entity, as a new community partner,
wanted to do something to reach out to the UCLA community in
particular,” Stone said. “I think that Time Warner and
Sundance want to do everything they can to encourage student
filmmakers. They’re not looking to get their brands out per
se ““ it’s all about community building.”
For Evans, working with Shorttakes is a logical extension of the
original mission statement of Robert Redford’s Sundance
Institute.
“What (Redford) wanted to do was give filmmakers the
opportunity to make the films they wanted to make,” Evans
said. “It makes perfect sense for us to sponsor this because
it’s an opportunity for filmmakers to make the films they
want to make and for people to see them.”
According to Campus Events Films Director Kathy Kim, the nascent
cable arrangement has not yet had much effect on the number of
entries to Shorttakes. But she’s anticipating that as the
deal becomes more final and public, interest in the festival will
get a bump.
“In future years, I’m hoping people will hear about
(the arrangement) and want to submit,” Kim said.
But even if the deal does not go through in the immediate
future, there is still much to be excited about in regard to
Shorttakes. Aside from the usual highly varied mix of live action
and animated work, Shorttakes is open for just the second year to
both undergraduate and graduate students from across the country.
Evans will be presenting separate new awards recognizing the best
undergraduate and graduate student films.
“I am amazed at the quality of the work,” he said.
“It’s pretty difficult being a judge because the work
is so good. Every work that makes it to this stage has a lot to
offer. Its hard to figure out which one is better than
others.”
Chris Yi, a second-year communication studies student and
Shorttakes finalist with his thriller “After the Tone,”
expressed excitement to simply be involved with the festival
““ particularly about the potential on-demand cable deal.
“For such a large audience to view something students
create would be great,” Yi said. “A lot of these
students put their blood, sweat and tears into these films, and
it’d be a great opportunity for them to get exposure outside
of UCLA.”