IPR instructor and Personal Space Director Andrew Hunt said it best as he accepted the Best in Fest Award at the Z Fest Award Gala on Thursday night, “I’m happy for myself and my crew, but I’m really happy for these young people up here. There is nothing like working with students – and seeing their faces when they realize that yes, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Andrew was surrounded by his students and his team members as a full house, including Z Fest judge and guest speaker Louie Anderson, applauded their accomplishment.
Personal Space was shot on location at IPR’s Edina Studios. It was a teaching set; Digital Video and Media Production students were paired with the pros in various roles during the shoot. The story was fleshed out and developed during Andrew’s advanced screenwriting class and students Ben Thorson, Lindsey Lucht, and Audrey Swenson all received a story credit on the film.
Andrew and his team Untitled Productions took home the Best in Fest award for the second year straight. In addition, Personal Space received awards for Best Director (Andrew Hunt), the Genre Award for Best Thriller, Best Cinematography (Ryan Grams), Best Editing (Jeremy Wanek), Best Actress (Molly Ryman), Third Place Peer Review, and Second Place in the Trailor Contest.
Ben Thorson, who graduates with AAS degrees in both DVMP and SDVM this week, summed up the feelings of all of the students involved in his Facebook Post:
One of the best ways to wrap up the quarter/final day of school for me. Last night I attended the ‘best of’ screening for Z-Fest, then stuck around for the awards ceremony… Personal Space took home the Best of Fest, amongst numerous other awards… I got the opportunity to go up on stage and be a part of the Best of Fest award. It was an amazing experience I hope I can replicate as my film career takes off. This was my first time at a film festival awards ceremony, and it certainly won’t be my last… I want to thank Andrew Hunt for being a phenomenal teacher and mentor these last couple of quarters, Trey Wodele for his endless support, and all the other teachers that helped shape who I am today… And all the friends I’ve met along the way at IPR, get out there and get it.
Additional IPR students credits on the short include Audrey Swenson, Script Supervisor; Owen Seaton, Megan Becker, and Jorge Fuentes, Production Assistants; Ben Thorson, 2nd Assistant Camera; Lindsey Lucht, Grip; and Robyn Ehrlich, Art Department. Check out IMDB to see their credits, the first of many for all of them.
Personal Space will screen again, along with degree culminating films directed by Ben Thorson, Audrey Swenson, and Lindsey Lucht, at the IPR Digital Video Showcase at 1:00 on May 13th, at the Showplace ICON theater in St. Louis Park.
You can watch Personal Space on Vimeo, but it does not compare to the experience of seeing it on the big screen in a state of the art theater, so please join us on May 13th at the Showplace ICON.
[vimeo 154457024 w=800 h=334]
PERSONAL SPACE from Andrew Hunt on Vimeo.
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IPR DV Students Collaborate with Professionals on Short Film For Z Fest
IPR Student/Pro Collaboration Screening at Z Fest This Week