With filmmakers and films from around the world in town for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the public has the opportunity to see not only Oscar contenders and indie favorites, but the cinematic talents of a group of Santa Barbara City College students as well. “Virtually Yours,” a 24-minute short film written and produced by students in SBCC’s Capstone Film Production class, will be shown at the Arlington Theatre on Monday, February 5, for an evening of six short narrative films.
“Virtually Yours” is no ordinary student film. With a cast of professional actors, and cameras, lighting, and sound gear identical to those used by professionals, it was submitted into the festival competition – in which only about 7% of submitted films are accepted – along side of those produced by professional filmmakers, not other student filmmakers.
According to Curtis Bieber, Chair of the Film & Television Production Department, the goal of the Capstone class is to provide students the opportunity and tools to produce a professional-level, festival-ready short film.
“I am pleased that we have been accepted into the highly competitive Santa Barbara International Film Festival for three years in a row,” said Bieber.
Featuring several recognizable Santa Barbara locations, “Virtually Yours” tells the story of a young woman exploring a relationship with someone she can’t have through a revolutionary virtual reality game.
The eighteen students involved on the project put in hundreds of hours, gaining essential experience in every aspect involved in the production of a film, including budgeting, location management, lighting, sound, music, makeup, costuming, writing, directing and editing.
This year marks the third time that an SBCC Capstone class short film has been chosen as an international film festival selection. Past classes have proven themselves not only at SBIFF, but also at Cannes, SoHo and other festivals, with “Behind Closed Doors” in 2016 and “Someone’s Hero” in 2017.
Mr. Bieber credits former Dean Alice Perez, who helped secure a sizable grant to purchase an industry-standard camera & lens package for the class, as well as the generosity of the SBCC Foundation which contributes towards ongoing Capstone production costs.
“Without the both of them, this opportunity for the students would not exist.”
The SBIFF program of narrative shorts will begin screening at 8:00 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre on Monday, February 5. Individual tickets are $10.
