FSU College of Motion Picture Arts 2014-2015 Publication 2014-2015 | Page 20

Sweeping the
Student Emmys

The winning FSU Film directors and producers pose with their trophies at the College Television Awards.

producers from the FSU College of Motion Picture The College swept the Children’s category, with
Arts were invited. Though the College participates first place going to the BFA Filmmaking III film
in a number of fiercely contested competitions for Lemonopolis, produced by Hyungjik Lee. Lauren
student filmmakers, the Student Emmy competition Potter, who plays Becky Jackson on Glee, presented
is unusual. Not only does the Emmys Foundation the award to Hyungjik.
single out producers for the awards, it is also possible
to win with a non-thesis film. The Student Emmys Second place went to Monster, another Filmmaklove a good story and are just as likely to recognize ing III project, produced by Khadif Sanders. To the
the shorter films students make before their final Moon rounded out the trifecta, a Directing II project
thesis project.
produced by Nestor Bustamante. The ceremony was
followed by a sit-down dinner on the Hall of Fame
In this year’s competition the college had five Student Plaza, where everyone had a chance to network.
Emmy winners, more than any other school, and all
five director/producer teams were able to attend the While the directors were allowed to attend the gala
ceremony. Only one of the films, Death Has a Son and dinner, only the producers were invited to the
(which won Second Place in the Comedy category), Nominee Summit, which took place the day before.
was a BFA thesis film, produced by Peter Davis. At the The event was a full day of networking and breakgala the film’s director, Zack Ogle, was teased about out sessions with television industry professionals
his polka-dotted bowtie by hosts Jessica St. Clair and like Jonathan Murray, creator of The Real World;
Lennon Parham, stars of the sitcom Playing House.
Fred Savage of The Wonder Years; Jada Miranda, VP
of Entertainment and Media for Xbox; and Dan
Also winning in the Comedy category was Three’s a Attias, director of shows like Homeland, House, and
Crowd, an MFA Directing II project, produced by Entourage.
John Francis. Director Mithra Alavi got a shout-out
from comedy presenters Key & Peele, who thought Peter Davis made the most of the experience, saying,
it was great that a female wrote and directed a sex “For me, the coolest part about the Student Emmys
comedy, and wondered where women like her were was the opportunity to sit down and ask specific,
when the comedians were in college. Both winning personal questions, to actually converse with some
producers in the comedy category were able to talk legitimate and innovative industry professionals.”
with the duo backstage and have their pictures taken.

by Brenda Mills

F

or any given film, whether it is created at Winning producers are flown out to Los Angeles by
the College of Motion Picture Arts or in the the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundaindustry, most of the responsibility — as well tion to participate in two days of special activities,
as the glory — for a production lies with the direc- including an opportunity to network with top televitor. A notable exception to this rule is the College sion executives and attend a gala awards ceremony.
Television Awar