Comm Arts Students Shoot Film in 3-D

With the opening of Asbury University’s new Andrew S. Miller Center for Communication Arts this year, there are plenty of “firsts” happening within the various departments on campus that will utilize the one-of-a-kind facility.

But these firsts aren’t all happening within the walls of the building.

This winter, for instance, Asbury students had the unique opportunity of creating a short film utilizing a state-of-the-art 3-D camera. A credit to the University’s reputation for Communication Arts excellence, Panasonic loaned Asbury its newest professional 3-D video camera for two weeks last semester.

“We have had a long relationship with Panasonic due to our Olympic partnership,” said Jim Owens, the Dean of the School of Communication Arts at Asbury (which has had students working as media at nine Olympic Games). “We were really excited when they chose Asbury to be one of the first schools to shoot a short film with their new 3-D professional camera.”

Asbury film faculty member Josh Overbay used the equipment to create a short film, “Breathless.” Overbay, whose prior experience focuses on directing short films, was excited to include students in the process.

“This became a great teaching opportunity, it was nice to get out of the classroom and give the students the opportunity to participate,” Overbay said. “For some students, this was their first experience on a semi-professional set.”

Shooting in 3-D offered students more than a chance to get out of class, however. The 3-D format is becoming common in the film industry today, and having first-hand experience in 3-D at the undergraduate level is uncommon and a real advantage for those interested in working in film.

“While we don’t necessarily believe that 3-D will take over the film and television world, we do believe that 3-D is here to stay,” Owens explained. “It is great to have the opportunity to expose our students to the 3-D process.”

Overbay served as director of  “Breathless,” filling all other positions with 42 students who volunteered to work on the project. The interest in the project was a surprise to Owens. “I was pretty amazed that 42 students volunteered to work on a 3-D short film the last week of classes, despite heavy course loads,” he explained. “They just wanted the chance to see what 3-D production is like.”

The film was also the first department film shot on Asbury’s new outdoor back lot, part of the new Andrew S. Miller Center for Communication Arts.

Students in the Media Communications department are beginning the editing process on the film this month. “Breathless” will be premiered on March 4, 2011, at the dedication ceremonies for the new building.