The students of the Wright State Motion Picture program are premiering their thirteen documentaries, ranging from Lego stores to funeral homes. Doors open at 7 pm, the show will begin at 7:30, there will be a Q&A with directors afterward, and a short intermission.
Free Admission (first-come, first-serve on the evening of the show), but cash donations are greatly appreciated and will go toward the program.”
DOCUMENTARIES
Clifton – Directed by Mason Perry
Summary: Clifton is a documentary about rock and roll. Centered around the days leading up to the First Annual Mockball, local Cincinnati band, Saving Escape, talks about the process of throwing on the show and the collaboration within the community that’s pushing Cincinnati’s music scene back into the spotlight.
About Mason: My name is Mason Perry, I’m from Piqua, Ohio. I plan to specialize as a Director of Photography. One of my favorite films that have inspired me is Inglourious Basterds. I chose my documentary subject because I’m a concert photographer for some of the bands in Cincinnati. After being a part of that scene for a few years and through meeting various people I’ve seen how they’ve grown and really pushed what a DIY music scene should be, and I wanted to showcase that around one of the biggest events of the year and how it benefits them.
the neon rainbow – Directed by Nic Studer
Summary: the neon rainbow is a short documentary by Nic Studer about the Dayton LGBT Film Festival and its creator, Jonathon McNeal. Jonathon discusses what the festival is, why it is so important to the Dayton community and the LGBTQ+ community, along with the history of the festival and some of the best moments in all its time!
About Nic: My favorite movies are Halloween (2018), Twister, Poseidon, and Scream (2020). I want to become a writer, director, and producer of the next big horror movies. In the long run, I want to be able to own and operate my own production company to give other creators the chance to bring their visions and stories to life.
It’s Homemade – Directed by Jazz Jefferson
Summary: The infamous Bill’s Donut Shop (commonly referred to as Bill’s) is open and has been thriving for 63 years. The married couple Bill and Faye Elam Opened Bill’s in 1960. Over the years, Bill and Faye have established a business built on community and handcrafted donuts. As a result, Bill’s received numerous awards including, but not limited to, Dayton Best of Contest and a shout-out on Ellen. In 1955 Jim and Lisa Elam took over the business and carried out their parent’s legacy. At last, this documentary, It’s Homemade, goes in-depth about the community and success Bill’s Donut Shop has achieved over the years.
About Jazz: Hello everyone! I am Jazmyn Jefferson, majority of people call me Jazz. I was born and raised in a small town located in Northwest Ohio. At Wright State University, I chose to direct as my specialty. I also have an interest in sound design. Films that I enjoy and have sparked inspiration include, The Incredible Hulk, The Black Panther, Parasite, Dumb and Dumber, and Training Day. I consider myself a donut enthusiast. Therefore, I chose Dayton’s local donut shop, Bill’s Donuts Shop, to be the subject of my documentary. Lastly, I wanted to understand Bill’s success and discover why their donuts are so tasty.
Alex Bunsold
Morgan Johnson
Summary: The reason I chose my dad as my subject for my documentary is because I thought it would be interesting to hear about a veteran’s experience in the military and some of his achievements. I also wanted to add a little bit of comedy to lighten the mood of the topic, so I made a fake advertisement in the beginning and kind of treated it like a mini podcast.
About Morgan: My name is Morgan Johnson. My dad served in the Air Force, so we moved around a lot until he finally retired in Ohio. I plan to specialize in editing, it’s something I really enjoy and hope to get better at.
Bino Bannan
Sam May
Empathy’s Not Dead – Directed by Grace Loechinger
Summary: What does it take to handle life’s greatest tragedies? ‘Empathy’s Not Dead’ takes a peek inside the casket to learn more about the mortuary business and those who make their livelihood working with the deceased. This documentary focuses on the Routsong Funeral Home, a family-owned business that has been helping to honor the dead and comfort the bereaved for over a century.
About Grace: I grew up in Rhode Island and have spent the last several years living in Ohio. As I continue my education in WSU’s Motion Pictures program, I plan to specialize in writing and directing. I am inspired most by films that take dark subject matters and put creative, comedic, or juxtapositional twists on them, showing the concepts in a new light. This is, in part, what inspired the documentary “Empathy’s Not Dead”, which focuses on a local funeral home and explores what it takes to manage grief and tragedy.
Everything is Fine – Directed by Trevor Seech-Hrvatin
Summary: Ever since she was a kid, Tallulah Swasey wanted to be a musician. Follow her story from her first band to her current, Grumpy Plum, and all the hardships along the way.
About Trevor: My name is Trevor Seech-Hrvatin, I grew up in Mentor, Ohio, a town about 30 minutes outside of Cleveland. I want to specialize in writing and directing, my favorite director is Wes Anderson and some of my favorite films are “Fantastic Mr.Fox”, “Empire Strikes Back”, and “Jojo Rabbit”. I chose Tallulah Swasey, and her band Grumpy Plum, to be the subject of my documentary because I am personally inspired by her commitment to making art no matter what is thrown at her.
Bagged and Boarded – Directed by Rob Bicknell and Chloe Sinkhorn
Summary: Bagged & Boarded is an exploration of the local comic book market, as well as a look into the comic book industry as a whole. We talked to four different shops across Dayton to learn how each of them have been affected by recent changes and challenges. The result is an eye opening insight into one of America’s most enduring hobbies.
About Rob: My name is Rob Bicknell, and I am from Centerville, in the south part of Dayton. I am focusing on writing and directing. Some of my favorite movies are Raiders of the Lost Ark and Mad Max: Fury Road. I made Bagged & Boarded because I noticed a disconnect between the popularity of comic book characters onscreen, and the printed works that inspired them. Therefore, I decided to take the temperature of the industry, at least on a local level, to see how things like COVID and the aforementioned movies have affected business and readership.
About Chloe: My name is Chloe Sinkhorn and I am from the great city Akron, Ohio. I specialize in cinematography and screenwriting. I love big adventure movies like: The NeverEnding Story and Pirates of the Caribbean, but my all time favorite film is, How to Train Your Dragon. I chose to make a documentary on comic books because I recently started reading them and I wanted to learn more about them.
The Artifacts Beneath Us – Directed by Cayden Whitman
Summary: ‘The Artifacts Beneath Us’ explores the process of finding Native American Artifacts (specifically stone tools like arrowheads), their importance to history, and what preserving them means to both myself and collectors.
About Cayden: My name is Cayden Whitman and I grew up an hour north of Wright State near the city of Bellefontaine. I plan to specialize in Cinematography. I have been inspired by many films, including all the Star Wars and Lord of The Rings movies, but my favorite film is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I chose my documentary subject because I wanted to share my passion for history and Native American artifacts with others, and because it is an aspect of history that I feel is not as appreciated as it should be.
