Victoria Harris and Miah Fox
The fifth annual Flatwater Film Festival took place from September 26 through 28 at the historic Rivoli Theater in downtown Seward, Nebraska. The festival is a celebration of films and filmmakers from Nebraska. This year two films produced by Hastings College faculty and students were officially selected by the festival..
Two films from Hastings College were accepted. The first was Expedition Yellowstone, directed by Dr. Jesse Weiss, a professor of sociology and the associate vice president for academic affairs. Alongside professors Jesse Weiss and Brian Corr, students Karson Weiss, Maddie Kemler, Jake Lambert, Draya Benson, Brock Karr, Anya Myers, Paige Neel, Marissa Ruiz, and Venn Wood all explored Yellowstone National Park for a week during the last spring break. Weiss helped bring all of these student’s experiences together into one short film.
“It was to share their perspective and story.” Weiss said when discussing the details of Expedition Yellowstone. He stated that this was not the first time he had created such a film. He actually has been filmmaking for eight years, and creates one for every trip he takes his students on. Though this one was special. It wasn’t just the first time that he entered a piece into a film festival, but it also received an honorable mention from the Denver Monthly Film Awards in August. This award recognized Weiss’ work for its compelling storytelling.
The second film from Hastings was Threat, a comedy thriller written by Hastings College’s media instructor, Jarod Rogers. Rogers wrote, produced, and directed the film, and HC students Peyton Wallace, Caden Block, the cinematographer, Abby Peeters, and David Udlock participated in the making of the film as well.
Filming took place over four nights in the Gray Center for Communication Studies. The cast and crew worked from about 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Lead actor, Peyton Wallace, a Junior at Hastings College, spoke about his experience working on Threat. “We needed an empty Gray Center Building,” said Wallace. “We needed it to be pretty dark as well.” Rogers was all smiles when he talked about watching the film with his students at the festival. “I was thrilled by how invested the students were in the filmmaking process.” Rogers said. “Then to see them light up when they popped up on screen was priceless.”
The Flatwater Film Festival was thought of highly by the groups, as both films were shown in the morning in front of their peers. “It was exciting to see the movie on the big screen.” Weiss said, “And the folks were really nice and accommodating.” Weiss also said that he would definitely choose to enter into the Film Festivals in the future, with a sentiment for other filmmakers to do the same. “If it’s something that you have interest in and a passion for, do it.” And that is exactly what both these groups did, and it paid off in the end.
“I can’t express how proud I am,” said Rogers. “It’s so important to support young filmmakers here in Hastings and across Nebraska.”