HU student film accepted into Chicago film festival

HUNTINGTON, Ind. A senior film project from the 2011 graduates of animation program was chosen for screening at the 28th annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival.

"What Remains" marks the fifth film that the HU digital media arts department has produced that will be screened in competition for this festival.

"This honor tells us that the curriculum we've designed and implemented over the last few years is working. It takes a period of time for a program like ours to begin producing solid films, and 'What Remains' is one of a hand-full of films showing up in festivals this year that affirms our efforts as a department," said Steve Leeper, associate professor of digital media arts at Huntington University.

The film tells the story of a lone survivor on Earth scavenging the ruins of his civilization, desperate to find other survivors.

"The inspiration behind the story was derived from themes dear to each of the team members, including themes such as hope, the joy in the journey, change and love," said Andrew Martin, a member of the film's crew and a 2011 animation and computer science graduate from Eaton, Ohio. "This truly was a culminating experience in the animation studies for our team. The experience also encouraged the team to push the limits on what a senior project in the digital media arts department should be."

Members of the team included Martin, Chad Bierdeman, a 2011 animation graduate from Albion, N.Y., Pete Molinero, a 2011 animation graduate from Potsdam, N.Y., Joel Bullis, a 2011 animation graduate from Bel Air, Md., Drew Vosburg, a 2011 animation graduate from Anderson, Ind., and Jesse Nelson, a 2011 animation graduate from Gladstone, Mo.

The team plans to attend the festival scheduled for Oct. 21-30 and will be joined by HU's digital media arts faculty and current students.

The film is available for viewing at www.WhatRemainsTheFilm.com.