STEPHENVILLE, NL – College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Digital Filmmaking program is of the mind that, even during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the show must go on.
Organizers are issuing a virtual casting call for this year’s ninth annual Digital Filmmaking program’s intersession short film project.
This year, students will tell the story of an astronaut, light-years away from Earth, as he deals with the harsh realities of long-term isolation – a situation that can affect anyone mentally and physically, and it is relevant to the situation faced by many today.
Brenda Tobin, CNA’s Dean of Academics, Applied Arts & Tourism, expresses her pride for those involved in the Digital Filmmaking program – especially how faculty and students are adapting quickly and with ingenuity.
“Our Intersession filmmaking projects are such an integral part of our students’ learning experiences and to see this casting call now happening virtually is so very exciting,” she said.” I can’t wait to see the students’ creative storyline unfold and how this year’s production will be completed with such meaning, relevance and impact for all our viewing audiences.”
This year marks nine years for CNA’s Digital Filmmaking Class and its intersession short film project. Here is an example of a past production, and students are excited to show their talents again! This year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the casting call will be held virtually. See story for details of how.
The story takes place in the year 2030. Astronaut David Hartman is on a mission, as he makes a last-ditch effort to save Earth from the destructive properties of late-stage global warming. Deep in space, David is alone, completely disconnected from civilization – and more importantly, his son – with nothing but his onboard AI (artificial intelligence) to keep him company. The mission goes south quickly when the ship experiences critical damage from an external force, and David is left with nothing but his own skills and intuition to save himself, and the human race, by making a bold decision.
Peter Buckle, CNA’s Digital Filmmaking instructor, says students thought the storyline that captures the feelings of isolation, couldn’t be more fitting given today’s troubling times.
Santiago Guzmán, a graduate of the Grenfell Theatre program, portrayed Maxim Mazumbdar, founder of the Stephenville Theatre Festival, during CNA’s Digital Filmmaking program intersession production The Impossible Dream in 2018.
“With everything going on in the world right now, we are very excited that we are still able to produce our annual intersession film this year,” said Buckle. “The intersession semester has become a staple of our program. It’s a time that students are given the opportunity to collaborate with the assistance of their instructors to produce a professional quality film. This one conjures a sense of relatability to the audience, and it gives a refreshing lighthearted message to our current predicament.”
Due to the physical distancing recommendations revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic, students will not be hosting an “in-person” casting call this year. Instead, they ask anyone interested in auditioning for a role in this sci-fi short film to contact Buckle at peter.buckle@cna.nl.ca for scripts and slides, and for information on how to record an audition tape. All audition tapes need to be submitted by Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
For more information about CNA’s Digital Filmmaking program, visit: www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media contacts:
Peter Buckle (producer)
College of the North Atlantic
Digital Filmmaking instructor
709-639-4576
Peter.buckle@cna.nl.ca
Keith Bonnell (producer)
Digital Filmmaking instructor
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7949
Keith.bonnell@cna.nl.ca
Michelle Barry
Communications Manager
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7721
Michelle.barry@cna.nl.ca