About 150 people packed the American Film Institute theatre to see six Elon in L.A. productions.
The 37 students in the Elon in L.A. program produced short films under the label of Climbing the LAdder, the university’s simulated production company that releases student projects each summer.
Surrounded by Elon alumni, friends and professional associates from Los Angeles, the students celebrated their work, which was premiered August 1 in the Mark Goodson Screening Room at the American Film Institute in Hollywood.
Program director J. McMerty told the audience that students handled all aspects of concept, writing, production, casting, acting, makeup, music scoring and production, editing and publicity for the productions.
The short films included the following (click the titles to watch the videos on YouTube)::
– “The Third Proposal” – the struggle of a young man with obsessive compulsive disorder who fears proposing marriage to his girlfriend
– “My Family Circus” – the story of a young man who dreams of being an accountant, but his professional clown parents won’t stand for it and demand he follow the family clown business
– “Movie Night” – a vignette of two roommates whose fight over which movie to watch on TV is rooted in the news that one of the girl’s parents are divorcing
– “Adrift” – the story of an elderly man who cannot let go of the memories of his late wife
– “Olive” – the story of a little girl who is confined to her room by a busy mother but dreams of playing outside with her imaginary friend
– “Rock Bottom” – the story of a musician who cannot write a new song and descends into a drug-induced dream before breaking through and succeeding with the recording
The screening event included receptions and the opportunity for students and alumni to further develop the networking that is fueling strong growth in Elon’s programs in the California entertainment industry. In addition to producing the films, Elon in L.A. students take classes and complete internships during the nine-week program.