Cru films to hit Beltonian’s big screen

The Cru Film program is in its fourth year of production.

This semester, students have been working on short films and public service commercials. Two films were produced, The Runaway and The Good Wife. 

The Runaway is about a young boy who struggles with his family life and the monsters in it. The Good Wife tells the tale of a soldier’s spouse.  The film shows how much her life is affected by her husband’s post traumatic stress disorder. 

Professor of communication and media studies, Dr. Diane Howard and director of computer graphics design Donna Teel, were head of both films.

Howard said, “It has not been difficult to organize the event screenings. The challenges have always been with writing and producing the films ... although we have always had many talented UMHB students and associates, who have worked very hard to produce these films.”

The first screening of the films will be at the Beltonian, 219 E. Central Avenue, on April 19, 12-1 p.m. 

Then  April 22, the movies will be shown at The Lord Conference Center on campus beginning at noon. 

So much hard work went into the productions, and all from students.

 Freshman performance studies major Raychelle Presley, the  production assistant for The Runaway said, “It is a great experience to get to see a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes of movies that you wouldn't expect otherwise.”

Everything from the actors, to the directors, the camera men, and the sound were all done by students.  Not only have the communication and business information departments been involved in the project, but also the art department, whose students   contributed graphics  for stages.

Howard believes the films were meant to be emotional and will tug at the viewer’s hearts. 

Second assistant director, senior Josh Davis said the movies are also going to be beneficial in a broader sense.
“I feel that these films can easily be used by others going through problems, and not just soldiers,” he said.

The films will also be sent to several film festivals. Howard would like citizens to have sympathy for the soldiers who are enduring such an unbelievable amount of stress in war areas.