While many dream of seeing their work on screen, either in front of the cameras or behind the scenes, a group of Grand Valley State University students will have that chance when the film “Message Sent” debuts at Celebration Cinemas North on April 27.

Last summer, students and faculty at GVSU participated in the Summer Film Project, in which a group of students work with staff and industry professionals to create a short film.

“For students to join forces with faculty members and industry professionals really hammers home the idea of this being a real production,” said Caian White, the film’s producer and GVSU alum. “This is certainly a far cry from a normal ‘class’ and everyone is learning from each other as well as from the faculty.”

Pre-production work and production take place during the summer semester, and then is edited during the following school year. The completed film is then premiered in the spring at a local theater.

The program is now entering its 18th year and is financially backed by the School of Communications. A meeting is held every March for film and video production majors in which they can sign up for the positions in which they are interested. Although they may not receive their first choice, the student is likely to obtain a role on the film, as long as they’ve completed the required courses.

“It is amazing the amount of knowledge and experience students can gain through their participation,” said Emily Johnston, assistant director. “The more each student puts into the project, the more they will get out of it.”

The film tells the story of a vagrant who finds a cell phone full of trouble. It is about redemption, second chances, and family.

“The craziest night of filming was when we waited through a three hour rain storm in the wee hours of the morning and then continued filming until the sun came up to make up for lost time,” said John Philbin, director of the film.

Philbin said the time-intensive process is a great learning experience and that everyone bonds and becomes like family.

“The idea of viewing and treating everyone as your co-worker is really strived for,” White said. “This experience is about learning how to work with your crew no matter what their age or professional status may be.”

This program is especially important to students, they said, because it gives them the opportunity to not only work with a larger crew, but also to have the challenge of being assigned a specific role and learning to thrive in it.

“I learned more in that course than I did in any at GVSU,” Johnston said. “The experience has also proven to be an essential addition to my resume and has helped me to obtain paid work.”

“Message Sent” is premiering at Celebration Cinemas North on April 27 at 8 p.m.. Admission is $5, cash only. Following the film, a short “making of” will be shown to showcase the program and behind the scenes of the production.

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