Newswise — In a one-of-a-kind collaboration, more than 130 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students are working side-by-side this week with Hollywood professionals to produce a short film.
The film, titled "Vipers in the Grass" and written by Hollywood mainstay Jorge Zamacona, has attracted writers, actors, directors and production workers with hundreds of TV shows and motion pictures to their credit -- including "30 Rock," "Law & Order," "St. Elsewhere," "Gilmore Girls" and "Charlie Wilson's War."
This isn't your typical student film -- during their week on sets in and around Lincoln, the Hollywood professionals are mentoring and instructing students in the intricacies of building a motion picture from start to finish.
In the end, "Vipers in the Grass" will be the only project of its kind in the United States " blending academic projects with a creative product that will be submitted to film competitions and festivals around the country. Meanwhile, students will have the experience of creating a professional product.
Dean Winters, who is best known for roles on HBO's "Oz," NBC's "30 Rock" and "Rescue Me" on F/X, stars in the film and is working alongside actors from UNL's Johnny Carson School of Theatre and film. He said he and other professionals weren't sure what to expect when they arrived on the set of "Vipers" on May 14, but have been impressed with students' professionalism and enthusiasm.
"They definitely got thrown into the fire and know what it's like to be on a set," said actor Dean Winters. "They're doing great -- it's a great learning experience for them."
The unique partnership is the result of more than a year of planning with UNL's Carson School and industry professionals, Carson School director Paul Steger said.
By taking advantage of a grant from the Program Enhancement Fund through the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and the Johnny Carson Theatre and Film Endowment, the project has taken on the look and feel of a professional motion picture production.
"(The school's) objective has been to provide students with an opportunity to work directly with faculty and outside professionals to create a professional production that is larger and broader in scope than can reasonably be expected of students working independently," Steger said.
In addition to film school students, UNL's School of Music, the Department of Art and Art History, the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications are contributing everything from the film's musical score to its art and graphics to a "Making Of" documentary.
Students, faculty and staff coordinated all aspects of production, including location scouting, production design, scenic and costume design and construction, camera operators, lighting and grip, graphics, composing the score, working on contracts, travel and housing for outside professionals, budgeting and shooting schedules.
It's an experience that writer and producer Jorge Zamacona, whose credits include "Oz" and "Homicide: Life on the Street," said he wished he would have had during his days in film school in California.
"We had professionals come in and lecture for a day (when I was in school)," he said. "We never had anyone walk us through an entire production. So this is valuable and time well spent."
Professionals involved in the project include:
* Jorge Zamacona, producer and screenwriter ("Wanted," "Oz," "Homicide: Life on the Street," "The Saint," "Law & Order")
* Mel Efros, producer ("Wanted," "Line of Fire," "Gilmore Girls," "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman")
* Alex Zakrzewski, director ("Oz," "Homicide: Life on the Street," "CSI: NY," "Cold Case," "Numb3rs")
* Ivan Fonseca, first assistant director ("Rescue Me", "The Black Donnellys," "Law & Order," "Oz," "The Wire")
* Harley Jane Kozak, actor ("The Guiding Light," "When Harry Met Sally," "Parenthood," "Arachnophobia")
* Dean Winters, actor ("Oz," "30 Rock," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Life on Mars," "Rescue Me")
* Sid Sidell, director of photography ("Life," "Smith," "Wanted," "Grave Matters")
* Bob Heine, camera assistant ("Charlie Wilson's War," "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," "Wild Hogs")
RSS