UCA Students Showcase Films
Recently, the University of Central Arkansas hosted a film showcase featuring five new short films created by graduating students from UCA’s Master’s film program. This annual event allows the recent graduates to display their work in a public setting, providing an opportunity to gauge the progress of UCA’s film program as well as the state of Arkansas’ film scene.
The chosen films demonstrate a shift towards more diverse storylines and characters, compared to previous years. For instance, Nathaly Moreno’s “Strawberries” focuses on the generational tensions within a Hispanic family surrounding a girl’s quinceañera. This short effectively evokes empathy and understanding of a complex cultural context. However, an ongoing issue observed with these student films is the tendency to cram feature-length ideas into shorter formats, leading to overstuffed plots and underdeveloped characters.
Exceptions to this pattern include Casey Floyd’s “World’s Lamest Teacher,” which expertly weaves together slice-of-life vignettes about a high school teacher. The film stands out for its well-integrated storytelling and strong performances. Floyd’s semi-autobiographical approach showcases his filmmaking skills and ability to capture realistic situations.
The UCA film program is recognized for its comprehensive approach, combining new technology with the fundamentals of storytelling to produce creative and original work. The program focuses on preparing students for a career in the motion picture industry and other media fields, providing them with facilities such as dedicated editing suites, an audio recording studio, and a sound stage with green screen.
The department’s mission is to foster innovation and creativity in the cinematic arts. It offers both a BA and MFA in film production, with one of the lowest tuition rates in the country. This makes it an attractive option for budding filmmakers seeking to develop their skills.
Film Festival and Courses
- The annual UCA Film Festival allows current students to showcase their films.
- The department provides a comprehensive film production degree, preparing students for work in the motion picture industry, internet and software industries, non-profit sectors, and advertising.
- An emphasis is placed on the use of new technology in storytelling.
- 24/7 access to production facilities is available to students.
Other Programs in the Department
The Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing also offers a BA in Theatre and Creative Writing. The Theatre program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and features a professional summer theatre company that employs student interns. The Creative Writing program offers the largest number of creative writing courses in Arkansas and prepares students for careers as literary artists, educators, editors, publishers, and more.
