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EU Films premiers “Skylar” on Friday, Apr. 29

Published on Apr 25, 2016 by Evangel University News

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — EU Films will debut the science fiction melodrama, “Skylar,” on Friday, April 29, 2016. The film produced by Evangel University students will show at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Barnett Fine Arts Center.

Tickets are $1 for students and $2 for general admission at the door. Barnett is just south of the Robert H. Spence Chapel, facing Glenstone Ave.

“Skylar” is a melodrama that takes place in the near future where robots take a very believable human form and possess artificial intelligence. The story explores how human beings deal with technological progress that becomes hard to distinguish from real-life.

Levi, a graphic designer with significant relationship problems, decides to order a personal female assistant android as an experiment (Skylar). He soon finds himself attracted to the android as she is quite charming. However, an old flame shows up at work, which further complicates things.

The lead actors include EU students Adam Ragsdale as Levi, Alexa Peyton as Skylar the android and Cherish Ward as Misty, Levi’s high school crush.

Supporting cast members include EU students Robert Kelley, Matt Cederblom, and Hayley Hestand.

Special appearances include Lane Simmons and Jonathan Jarosinski, both Evangel instructors. A number of additional students played extras and stand-in roles.

2016-04.29 EU Films Skylar Poster
Full poster for EU Films spring 2016 production. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Production

The spring 2016 EU Films production, “Skylar,” was directed by Andrew Kilpatrick and produced by Rajeev Colton, both senior film majors.

Additional staff includes director of photography Noah Giamei, a junior film major; editor Lauren Havard, a senior digital arts major; and audio supervisor Billy Hansen, senior digital arts major.

The screenplay was written as a team effort by Kilpatrick, Kelley, Havard, and Giamei.

This film somewhat mixes two genre romantic melodrama with science fiction,” said Dr. Cameron Pace executive producer. “The workshop has been working very hard to establish that this is about relationships, not just superficial attraction. We have been very pleased with the performance of the cast.”

Producer Rajeev Colton added, It has been quite a journey — ‘Skylar’ is my 5th and final EU film at Evangel, and what’s nice to see is how we just get better and better each year. I’m so excited to present this film to our community and to have worked with some amazing people as well.”

The story was developed during the fall semester. Casting was completed in January. Principal photography began in early February and continued through mid-April.

EU Films provides real world experience

EU Films is a student media organization located in the Communication Department at Evangel University. Each semester, the Film Workshop — a course connected with EU Films — produces a feature film of 45 to 60 minutes in length.

The productions are photographed using professional HD digital film-style cameras. Visuals are edited using Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Speedgrade software.

Approximately 10 to 20 Evangel students are involved each semester with the making of the films, serving as staff, crew and writers, while executive producer and adviser Dr. Cameron Pace supervises the films. In addition, actors from around the Ozarks often participate in Evangel films.

“It’s important to have our students work on various genres, because each type of film has specific needs and stylistic requirements that make for good practice of skills,” said Pace. “Many of the EU film students work on multiple movie projects during their four years of college. I want them to have a strong and varied experience in this field.”

Films produced at Evangel are shown at the end of each semester, and then uploaded to the website Crusadermedia.com for public viewing at a later date.

Evangel’s cable station, EUTV, also airs the films approximately three to four months after the public viewing.

More information for EU Films can be found at http://www.crusadermedia.com/EUFilms/eufilms_home.html or by contacting Dr. Cameron Pace.