Student-Made Film to Premiere in Early September

Concord University students have many talents. There are writers, actors, musicians, athletes, artists, and numerous other talented individuals always showcasing their skills for their peers through shows and exhibitions on campus. Now, a Concord filmmaker is about to put his skills on display with a showing of a fully homemade short film. 

    Joe Faidley, a senior communication arts broadcasting major, will be premiering his short film entitled “Seized” on September 13 at 7 p.m. in the main auditorium of the Alexander Fine Arts Center. In accordance with the norm at short film festivals, an admission fee of $1 will be charged at the door. The film will last approximately ten minutes. Faidley will be giving a short introduction prior to the showing. 

    With this film, Faidley is seeking to showcase his prowess not only in screenwriting, but also in editing film materials. The film will be added to a portfolio that will be submitted to film schools following his graduation. 

    Faidley has been working on this short film for several years. After picking up a copy of the Screenwriter’s Bible by David Tottier, he became inspired to take his already existing interest in film and turn it into something new. 

    “I’ve always had interest in movies and film. I’m the type of person when I watch a DVD or Blu-ray, I’m not only watching the movie but the how-to, how to make that movie, what went into it, I’ve always been interested in that ever since I was a kid,” he said. 

    He explains that writing and producing a film, even a short film, is a long and difficult process: “It’s a blast. It’s also really complex. It’s something you really have to love the process, from having an idea in your head to putting it on paper, to reading it 100 times, if not more…to get something that’s going to go on camera”. 

 It involves hours of revisions, editing, and careful attention to detail. “Basically when you write a screenplay, there doesn’t need to be any useless information. Everything that you see in a movie should be something that pertains to what’s going on,” he explained. This makes the process very complex, as one has to make sure that every detail is discreet enough to not be a dead giveaway, but also pronounced enough to be noticed by the audience. 

    “Seized” is a science fiction horror film focusing on the idea of a hostile alien invasion. Faidley warns that a happy ending should not be expected. “It’s bleak, I’ll say no more about it,” he said. 

    After “Seized,” Faidley intends to begin work on another short film. 

    “Come see it, it’s going to be a blast! It’s a ten minute fall-off-of-a-cliff thrill dive…It’s only ten minutes, it’s only $1, there’s not a whole lot to lose,” he urged. 

    The film will be open both to the Concord student body and to the public.