Purdue filmmakers walk the red carpet, hit the silver screen

The Oscar night-like event will feature an array of genres including thrillers, mysteries, comedies and cartoons. Entries will compete in either the animated or video categories for prizes that include video-making hardware and software, digital video players and recorders, and entries in film seminars and contests. The best film created on a Mac will earn the director an iPod Nano.

Free tickets for the screening are available at the box office beginning at 6 p.m.

"I recommend checking these films out," said Jason Doty, a professional producer and director for Purdue's information technology department who helped judge the entries. "The thrill is comparable to discovering a talented local band and wondering when you might hear them on the radio."

The 4th Annual Digital Cinema Contest is sponsored by Purdue's Digital Learning Collaboratory to encourage students to pursue creative opportunities made possible by teaching and learning technologies. The collaboratory, a joint venture between Information Technology at Purdue and Purdue Libraries, exists to support and integrate learning of information and technology literacy. It provides access to the cameras, computers, software and training needed to conduct professional-caliber video and animation production for the contest and for course and research applications.

"The contest is a perfect way to highlight the possibilities created when we mate student initiative with state-of-the art technology," collaboratory director David Eisert said. "The excitement generated by this public event has a way of filtering its way back into the classroom in a myriad of ways."

Student participants learn scriptwriting, story boarding, cast and crew recruitment and supervision, and detailed audio and video editing. John Campbell, associate vice president for Teaching and Learning Technologies, said that even if the students never make another film the exercise will pay dividends.

"The strategic thinking involved carries over and augments any field of study," Campbell said. "Communication is required for success in any field. In the 21st century, visual communication is increasingly predominant."

Contestants must flesh out their movie with related products such as a movie trailer, DVD movie case and movie poster. The submitted DVD is required to include at least three special features from a list that includes director commentary, behind the scenes documentary, a Web site or movie-related game.

"Film may be an artistic pursuit, but the industry is driven by marketing," said Jody Reigel, outreach coordinator for Teaching and Learning Technologies. "The contest helps train students that good work in any business also needs to be packaged well. We give them the equipment, training and venue to hone those skills."

Additional contest and event information is available on the Digital Cinema Contest Web site as are previous digital film entries, including 2005 winners "Well Wishers," "Cells" and "Premiere."

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources: David Eisert, (765) 494-4209, eisert@purdue.edu

John Campbell, (765) 496-3952, john-campbell@purdue.edu

Jody Reigel, (765) 496-6788, jody@purdue.edu

Jason Doty, (765) 494-7091, rjdoty@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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