Hawks on film: UHCL’s CDMA establishes Student Film Showcase

The Communication and Digital Media Association (CDMA) hosted its inaugural Student Film Showcase Wednesday, Dec. 6 at the Student Services Building Lecture Room. The CDMA plans to hold this event each semester and feature short videos and films submitted by UHCL students, graduates, faculty and staff.

CDMA solicited student films between three and ten minutes in length, which were screened at the event. Films ranged in content from a mini-documentary featuring an artist working with ceramics to an existential short about a mime with a smartphone. One submission was a story told only with the actors’ shoes and no spoken dialogue.

“We did not add categories to this first one, as we are just providing people with an outlet to allow their films to be shown,” said Johnathan Taylor, CDMA president. “We wanted to start off as a video showcase with no pressure for producing content for awards.”

Student auteur Rhys Griffin, communication major, created and starred in several shorts, one featuring him in character as a bayou tour guide interacting with “critters” found in the bayous. Another drama by Griffin was about cars, which utilized miniatures as a film technique to achieve the practical effects of chases and crashes.

“This event is a great addition to the UHCL student life,” said attendee Michael Brims, assistant professor in digital media studies & communication, as well as a documentary filmmaker. “I hope it will grow a lot in the years to come and attract a lot more people, both participating filmmakers and audience.”

For more information about upcoming student film events, email uhcl.cdma@gmail.com