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Professor transforms classroom into film set
Frances Perkins (left) explains her vision for the next shot to director of photography, Mike Hartzel, a UW-Oshkosh alumnus and film professional from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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UW-Fond du Lac students are getting hands-on experience in film production, preparing them for future careers right here in the state, thanks to the efforts of communication and theater arts Professor Frances Perkins.
As the recipient of a UW Colleges Summer Research Grant, Frances put together a unique collaboration between UW-Oshkosh and UW-Fond du Lac and directed a short film project “Test Day.”
Collaborating on the project was her husband and UW-Oshkosh radio- TV-film Professor Troy Perkins. This is the third collaboration for the husband and wife team.
During the filming, an ordinary college classroom at UW-Fond du Lac was transformed for one week into a film set as students worked side-by-side with seasoned film professionals. Students were part of the entire process from developing the script to production to film editing.
“Film making, by its very nature, is a collaborative art form,” noted Frances. “The film professionals love the experience. They donate their time and come back year after year to work on these projects.”
With the recent changes to Wisconsin legislation these types of opportunities are important to help fill a growing need for students and graduates with film making experience in the growing Wisconsin film industry according to Frances. “They (students) won’t have to take off for L.A.”
“Test Day” chronicles the panic of an adult student with family and work responsibilities as he arrives at his university math class to find that it is the day of a big math test. Frances has had this script idea in her mind since she started teaching non-traditional students. The film will be entered into national and regional film festivals.
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