To make it big in the multibillion-dollar film industry, sometimes it’s best to start small.
UCLA’s Video Production Crew is a student-led organization that produces short films. Started on campus in the last few years, VPC has recently seen a large surge in popularity. Donna Du, third-year sociology student and VPC president, attributed the growth to the reformatting of the group’s board member positions, which allowed them to expand internal training through workshops. The additional members allow positions to be divided in a manner more similar to a professional environment.
The crew begins a new project each quarter by asking members to submit scripts. After reading through them, they narrow down their selection to one and production commences. From there, positions are assigned, casting calls are held and shooting begins.
“This next film is our first thriller, and it’s also our first off-campus location, which is pretty exciting,” said Du.
VPC began filming at Lucia’s Cafe in Westwood earlier in February. The film, currently projected to be completed by spring quarter, was developed in one of the group’s script workshops.
“(The movie is about) a mentally disturbed man (who) brings a suitcase into a diner and sits at the counter,” said Alexander DeKoning, writer and director for the currently untitled VPC project. “A waitress comes up to him and offers him coffee. He tells her he has a bomb in his suitcase.”
DeKoning plans on submitting the completed film to student festivals in Los Angeles.
Beyond the actual creation of movies, the close-knit nature of VPC nurtures teamwork. The board places emphasis on catching everyone up to speed in the various disciplines of film. And with a larger group of students to contribute, members have the opportunity to specialize their talents and learn from each other’s strengths.
“I can just come here and be a family with VPC. It doesn’t have to be all work – it’s work and play,” said second-year theater student Victoria Rafael.
Program director Nerris Nassiri said he was particularly proud of VPC’s last shoot. Members who were beginners last quarter stepped up to take on larger positions in this production, keeping in line with the board’s goal of widening the range of its members’ filmmaking ability. Nassiri said that encouragement is placed on broadening interests and taking chances within new roles, teaching each other from within the group.
“We usually have workshops, whether that’s pre-production, screen writing, production or improv,” said third-year psychology student Gilberto Jayassi, external vice president of the club.
Beyond producing its own films for the quarter, VPC had an active presence at last year’s Campus MovieFest, which tasked participants with creating a film in one week. A few members within the group produced their own entry, including marketing director Julia Lomino.
“Our film ‘Sexiled’ is about two potential lovers who meet under seemingly awful circumstances. They’re both sexiled by their weird roommates and it turns out they’re perfect for each other,” said Lomino.
“Sexiled” moved on to the competition’s wild-card round and will premiere at Campus MovieFest Hollywood in late June.
But for VPC the focus is not on competition, but rather honing the craft of filmmaking as a creative team that collectively appreciates cinema.
“I just like the visual aspect of film,” said Rafael. “It’s the richest medium I know artistically, so it makes it the hardest, but most rewarding.”