By Karen DeMarco
Films produced by Hofstra Filmmakers Club (HFC) members were showcased on Tuesday night to a packed Student Center Theatre at the HFC’s spring film festival. There were so many students in attendance that some had to stand in the back of the auditorium or crouch down in the aisles.
The nine films ranged in genre from drama to comedy and in length from a few minutes to about a half hour. From an epic tale, to a movie about making a movie, to a film without words, each one was uniquely different from the next.
The film that generated the most laughter from the audience was not a movie at all, said the film’s creators, David Beede and Andy McCarthy. They described “The Night the Ants Came,” as a fake trailer for a movie that will never come into existence. This “film” won an award for best sound.
“I honestly have no idea where the idea come from,” said senior Ritchie Filippi of his film “Un-undead,” which was about humans who eat zombies. “We were pulling an all-nighter and we thought, what would be the weirdest thing that could happen? Humans eating zombies! And it just went from there.”
Filippi will be graduating from the University this semester and heading out to Los Angeles in hopes to keep making films and see what comes out of it. While Filippi enjoyed all the films his fellow directors made, he said “The Flying Dutchman” was particularly cinematic.
“The Flying Dutchman,” directed by sophomore Chris Hall, seemed to be the film many students favored. It was a story about a young University student who struggled to find the true spirit of the University.
Hall said he started writing the screenplay in September when the idea for the film came from him and his friend who, “wanted to show Hofstra in the most fantastic way.”
Fan of “The Flying Dutchman” and first time filmmaker, PJ Germain, got to showcase his film “Purpose.” This film was a drama that told a story of a loner who seeks out the murderers of his sister.
Germain enjoys the friendships he has made as a member of HFC and hopes to one day become a director in Hollywood.
Included in the festival was the winner of the 48-hour film competition. Students formed teams and had only 48 hours to write, direct and shoot an eight-minute film.
Criteria for the film included a genre that incorporated sci-fi, romance, kung fu and action. Their films also had to include a wallet, the line, “How did you say that all in one breath” and the character Pedro Romero, an ex-bullfighter.
This year’s winner was Backdoor Bandits, whose film depicted female aliens that tried to seduce young University men.
Several other awards were given out. Best director was awarded to Amanda Zampelli for “Megan’s Swing,” a film about a woman’s relationship with her childhood swing.
Andrew Ferrel won excellence in writing for his film “The Electronocist.” This was a story about dorm room appliances that were taken over by the supernatural.
Students came to support their friends, watch a film they helped out with or just for general interest in film.
Other films included in the fest were “Bittersweet Romance,” a silent film directed by J. Hanna and “Screenplay,” directed by Steven Sandler.
HFC began five years ago and has grown in membership from six members to over 70 who work together to produce short films each semester. The club encourages any student, regardless of his or her major to become involved in the creative process.