Behind the glamor of filmmaking lives a cohort of students who have been working tirelessly to bring their projects to life. ASU film majors demonstrate how movie magic isn’t in the lights, but in dedication.
With a class of just 32 students, film majors working on their capstones have formed a tight-knit bond in order to succeed.
Each student has a role to play — from director to cinematographer to costumer — to meet their deadlines and complete their capstone experience.
The process spans three semesters, including pre-production, production and editing. Eleven short films are currently in the pre-production phase, moving into production in the spring semester.
In the pre-production phase, the crews focus on writing their script and pitching their ideas. If it is approved, they move on to raising money and casting.
"At the beginning of the class, 25 people pitched," Tyler Dudley, a junior studying film and media production, said. "Now we’re down to 11."
Dudley is the writer and director of "Tall Trees," a short horror film set in the woods.
Capstones are able to be cut at any point along the process if they aren't up to the school's standards. Crew members of "Tall Trees" said that the strict rules ramp the stress up further.
Capstones are set apart from other film projects because of the high expectations placed on students.
"We all have to raise our own money to make these films," Isabelle Jennings, a senior studying film and media production, said. "You definitely do have to be smart about it and figure out the cheapest way."
Jennings is the director of "Threads," a sci-fi film taking inspiration from AI and human connection.
In order to create the futuristic world of "Threads," Jennings and her team plan on using locations around ASU that fit their vision. Jennings also said that she is excited to work with sound stages and an LED volume wall.
"It’s just a really cool way to speak on topics of today in an exaggerated and fantastical way," Jennings said.
"For the capstone process at ASU, they don't allow a lot of horror projects," Patrick Trejo, a junior studying film and media production, said. "It's very limited in terms of what they want."
Trejo said that seeing a horror film selected drew him to join the crew of "Tall Trees." As the producer, Trejo works behind the scenes to get everything in order before filming even begins.
"Tall Trees" had to get creative with logistics. Working with an outdoor set and creating custom costumes were just some of the challenges the crew has faced, Dudley said.
Each short film comes with its own unique demands. "Seven Minutes" is a drama that switches between the past and present, calling for locations, props and costumes that match its retro setting.
"We made a little lookbook of costumes from the 70s and hairstyles," Covington Scaife, a senior studying film and media production, said. "I really want it to look authentically 70s, not like a caricature."
Scaife said that she has been working on her script for a year already, with another year of filming ahead of her. All this will culminate in one ten-minute film, written and directed by Scaife.
As a reserved person, Scaife said taking on the role of director has been a growing experience. Through the support of her crew, Scaife has been able to manage the stress that comes with undertaking such a project.
As casting begins for "Seven Minutes," Scaife said she is most excited to be on set and see her script come to life after months of planning.
"There's always this element of magic when you're on set," Scaife said. "Those moments where you see an actor give a performance that's really moving, I’ll tear up when I'm next to the camera."
READ MORE: Behind the scenes look at the Maroon and Gold Entertainment student films
As each project gets camera-ready, the students can anticipate increasingly heavy workloads.
Dudley said that the 32-student cohort is spread thin. Each student is expected to work on multiple projects at a time to gain more experience.
Trejo is a producer on three different films, which has led to issues with scheduling and jam-packed weekends. The capstone cohort has to work together so they can all make it to the editing phase.
Behind the scenes, this bond becomes clear: When the cameras start rolling, a hush falls over the set. Every member of the crew seems to move as one to work toward their shared goal.
"I'm really grateful to be in a community of collaborators and filmmakers that are really amazing and inspiring," Jennings said. "I love it."
Edited by Kasturi Tale, Jack McCarthy and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at ajanusee@asu.edu and follow @lexijanusee on X.
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Lexi Janusee is in her first semester with the State Press. She is a freshman studying Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Theatre. Lexi also works for Blaze Radio, and is an on-air host for Open Mic.
