By Lauren Ring
The Master’s University’s Screenwriting I class, taught by professor Matthew Green, teaches students to write screenplays. Every spring semester, the Senior Capstone class earns the opportunity to pick what scripts (from the Screenplay Writing I class) they want to turn into films. The pitched film is then voted on by the entire Communication Department faculty.
This year, three different groups pitched to be directors. The faculty was so impressed by all three pitches that they approved all three. The films, approved and premiered at the Laemmle Theater, were “Refraction,” written by Cora McClain and Tess Gentry, directed by Isaac Busenitz, “A Time to Remember,” written by Emery King and Saige Schupbach, directed by Isaiah Torres and Paul Coleman and “Wally Wilkins,” written by Noah Cannon and directed by Mark Hoffman.
The University provides equipment and a starting point of funding for the students to film. Then, the students raise additional money with their team.
Green, the chair of the online cinema and digital arts degree and assistant professor in the Communication Department at The Master’s University said, “We matched up to $750 this year, but they could raise more than that.” This semester, the students raised an average of $3,500 per film.
“It’s the first time we’ve done three films so it required a lot from the students. It especially pushed them to do things that they didn’t think that they could do,” Green said. “Anyone who has ever worked on a film, no matter the length, understands the absolute dedication and hard work that it takes, and sometimes heartbreak.”
“[In] all three productions…these guys represented maturity, honored the Lord in their process, [and] I can’t tell you the stories I’ve heard from other crew members in regards to the way [they] conducted themselves,” said Green.
Additionally, for the first time, the university presented awards during this semester’s annual Capstone Premiere for Best Screenwriting, Best Editor, Best Score, Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Picture. Communication department faculty and staff announced the winners of each category.
“It takes so much to do this, a lot in the last week too, and so [there are] a lot of late nights [that] these teams pulled together to pull this off,” Green said. “Good job and I’m really proud of you guys.”
Green recognized Alyssa Benedict, Bella Nunez and the supervising editor, Emery King, who “mixed everything together in the end…in basically a weekend.”
The awards winners for the 2024 CDA Senior Capstone Premiere were:
Best ScreenWriting: Noah Cannon “Wally Wilkins”
Best Editor: Isaac Busenitz “Refraction”
Best Score: Jackson Anthony “Refraction”
Best Cinematography: CJ Beck “A Time to Remember”
Best Director: Isaac Busenitz “Refraction”
Best Picture: Adam Whitney and Isaac Busenitz “Refraction”
All three films, including other projects by students, will be available for viewing at https://vimeo.com/tmucomm.
The TMU Mane 