Honors College to host first-ever film competition

Residents of Milton Daniel Hall and students of the John V. Roach Honors College have the opportunity to win $1,000 in the college's first-ever film competition.

The competition, called FrogFilm, was designed to help the hall's residents learn to work together, express creativity and become acquainted with different aspects of the university, Ronald Pitcock, director of prestigious scholarships in the John V. Roach Honors College, told students about the contest in an informational session Thursday night.

To win, students must work in groups consisting of at least two Milton Daniel residents, two first-year honors students and one upper-class honors student. The teams will be given three weeks to shoot and edit their films, which are due for judging Sept. 23.

The requirements were revealed at the Thursday night's meeting.

Each film must have a plot that revolves around the theme "Clean Slate." They must include the word "Boschini" and the sentence, "If you paint it purple they will come." There must also be at least some filming at Frog Fountain.

Pitcock said the final product can be no longer than eight minutes long.

"We were given a great opportunity to create a community with the students in the building and to pair with residence life to create something that is unique at TCU and would achieve both of our missions," Pitcock said.

Stijn Dobbelaere, a freshman film, television and digital media major, said he was excited about the competition and ready to win.

"It's a chance to meet upperclassmen in the honors dorm," he said. "I am a film student, so winning is in my blood."

According to an informational e-mail sent to potential participants, there are nine cash awards with a grand prize of $1,000.

Freshman education major Katy Lyons said the cash prize was one factor of enticing students to participate. She and her friends heard about the contest and were instantly interested.

"It would be a fun way to earn money," she said. "I mean, obviously we are college kids so we love all the free cash we can [get], but we think it is a great way to go have fun, get to know the campus and really just get to enjoy making a movie together."

The movies will premiere in a public viewing on a big screen behind Milton Daniel Sept. 28 at 8:00 p.m. Premiere attendees will have a vote in choosing a winner of the "viewers' choice award," one of the nine possible prizes.

Pitcock said he was excited to see what students would create.

"I want them to have fun," he said. "I want them to create something that we can all look back and enjoy [and] laugh at, maybe get emotional over, but also really appreciate the interesting work that they can create."