In a revolutionary course during the Spring, 2009 semester, a group of Curry film students shot and edited their own 16mm film, using advanced equipment from local Boston rental houses.
The course, 16mm Film Production, was unique in many ways. Students were given an actual budget and they used the money to rent their own camera and lighting, arrange catering for the cast and crew, and have the film developed and telecined.
"What made this course so different was the exposure each student had to working with high end equipment," said Prof. Jerry Gibbs, co-chair of the Communication department. "Oftentimes a film course hands a student an old World War II era camera and tells the student to find a crew. We gave them a sizeable budget which allowed them to get great gear from the Boston production houses."
The course was packed with not only the production values needed to pull off a 16mm shoot, but the business practices as well. Students needed to work with purchase orders, handle caterers, design and implement casting calls, just to name a few of the myriad items of pre-production.
Taught by filmmaker Todd Davis, the students later received raw footage of the shoot and edited their own version of the short film, suitable for resume reels.
Many students called it the most important course of their college career.
"Many colleges are shying away from the expense of film," said film coordinator, Professor Dorria DiManno. "But we feel differently. The holy grail of video is achieving the film look. This course allows students to see first-hand the special qualities of film."
And the course allowed students to make connections in Boston's film and video rental community, which has already spawned internship opportunities and freelance jobs.