Ernest Hernandez, professor and director of video production, right, works with UTSA Film and Media Studies students on a scene ofWhen movie credits roll, most audiences tend to stand, stretch and walk out of the theater thinking about the narrative they just witnessed.
The red carpet screening is the culmination of months of work by 50 students from film and media programs at UTSA, San Antonio College, the University of Incarnate Word, Northwest Vista College and SAY Sí who contributed to the production of a 22-minute film, titled“We always commit to making sure that the whole film community in town is benefiting from our reach and our resources,” saidGuided by professional mentors from around the country, students conceived storylines and scripted...
Film industry professional Tiana Marenah praised the students for already displaying experience with various aspects of filmmaking. “They’ve all made some kind of movie, so that made it super easy. And they all clearly really love the collaborative nature of this particular art form,” Marenah said. “Everybody locally has some kind of pride. They all are trying to figure out how to further their community and film here,” she said.Nicolas Rodriguez, in the role of director for the shoot at City Cemetery #1 on the East Side, echoed Marenah’s observation.
Yarbrough said she appreciated what the visiting professional filmmakers — Marenah and cinematographer Anna Stypko — had to say about the goal of filmmaking in San Antonio, “which is where I’d like to make all of my stuff if I were to make stuff in the future because I love San Antonio.”Scott Ball / San Antonio ReportDiversity among students and faculty is of major importance to the locally-focused program, said UTSA professor and director of video production Ernest Hernandez.
Zabala Suárez said opening the directors workshop and similar past workshops to students from other schools creates diversity among the students, who ultimately create the stories and make the films.