School of Theatre, Dance, and Film’s film and digital media seniors tell captivating stories with their capstone film projects – News

Senior film and digital media majors at the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts have recently concluded filming their capstone film projects, applying the knowledge and techniques they have gained over their four-year period in the program.
These seniors—Carter Beaver, Diego Chavez, Crystal Garcia, Braden Kralis, J.D Lopatowski, Kallie McMillan, Nico Samuels, and Maddie Sievers—are on track to become the first cohort to graduate from the program, which was introduced in 2021 as part of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film’s effort to offer more diverse program options.

Their films, the culmination of their academic journey at Illinois State University, reflect their tireless efforts to craft captivating stories that resonate within the University community and beyond. Their film projects, which delve into various themes and emotions ranging from queerness, identity, loneliness, addiction, and multidimensional personality to exhaustion, promise to provoke thought, spark dialogue, and resonate deeply with audiences.

Crystal Garcia, director of Lenses, a story about a first-gen college student who is forced to confront and come to terms with parts of her identity she had hidden from her conservative family, is ecstatic about the reception of her film. She hopes that the audience will be willing to explore and have meaningful conversations about the multilayered aspects of identity, race, sex, and gender. She said, “I am hoping that they are able to be open and just feel everything. I’m talking about race, gender, and sexuality. I’m hoping that they’ll be able to embody that fully and just be able to put themselves in the other person’s shoes and feel that. I’m hoping it reminds them how multidimensional everything and everyone is.” Garcia shared the personal nature of her project as a queer Latina woman, emphasizing how it had influenced the development of the film’s protagonist and the trajectory of her journey to self-acceptance and reconciliation with her family.

Diego Chavez also notes the personal nature of his film Human Condition, which explores themes of addiction, loneliness, and depression experienced by a college student who has just commenced a degree program at a new university environment. The short film follows this student’s life as he navigates the complexities of college life while trying to make friends and blend into the university’s unfamiliar environment. He remarked, “The project has a lot of meaning because not only do I relate to the story, it is truly the story of every college student whether they want to disclose it or not. It’s all a part of the human condition. I hope to really give the audience a look at how hard it can be for some people who don’t have anybody to experience life with and how easy it truly is to go down the wrong route.”

J.D Lopatowski reflected on his creative journey. He was thrilled by the entire creative process from conceptualization to execution that has led to the realization of his creative vision, he said, “I think that that’s sort of the most exciting stage of anything, not just a film project, but I think any artistic endeavor, is when you’re at the start, you’re just like, what if we did this? And what if this is involved and just really exploring the possibilities without having to think about it?”

Film and digital media faculty member, Brendan Leahy, when speaking on submission and consideration for film festivals, said, “Students are expected to submit to festivals as soon as films are finalized. ISU’s own Foxtail Film Festival takes place every April. This year the dates run from April 24–27, 2025. On Friday, April 25, Foxtail hosts a regional filmmaker showcase where I hope to see a number of capstone films screened for an audience at the Normal Theater. In addition, students will submit to other film festivals across the country and the world.” He added, “Beyond that, there are multiple regional fests from Chicago to St. Louis. Film festivals of all levels use the same online portal for submissions, meaning the sky’s the limit for opportunities to compete for awards and prizes.”

Leahy also shared how working on the capstone projects gives students a simulation of being filmmakers in the industry, preparing them for successful careers outside Illinois State University. He further noted how supportive the film and digital Media faculty are of the students’ personal and professional development and how the program helps them harness their creative skills.

The film and digital media program at the Illinois State University School of Theatre, Dance and Film uniquely combines academic knowledge with hands-on practical experience, equipping students with the expertise and skills to bring their creative visions to life through film and other digital media forms. It aims to provide a rigorous foundation for careers in the film, television, and advertising industries or other career paths where their specialized skill sets will prove invaluable.