(Savannah, GA – July 19-21, 2023)
PennWest professor Brian Fuller was among 250 filmmaking professors from around the world who converged on Savannah this week for the University Film and Video Association‘s 77th annual conference. Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus played host to UFVA members as they shared best practices for production and teaching.
Perhaps not surprisingly, some of the conference’s most popular panel sessions concentrated on the influence and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and iPhone/Mobile filmmaking technology. Social media and the gig economy were also prominent topics of discussion. IATSE Gaffers and Cinematographers lead practical workshops; American Cinema Editors (ACE) promoted internships – with a particular emphasis on attracting applications from smaller regional schools beyond the epicenters of New York and Los Angeles.
The conference’s plenary session featured a screening of 2021’s The Neutral Ground, a PBS documentary about the dispute over the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans. Darcy McKinnon, the film’s producer, followed the showing with a Q&A which focused on regional filmmaking resources and grant funding for independent non-fiction films.
Dozens of other films were screened, many designated as works in progress. These films and screenplays were shared in various phases of completion for peer review, critique, and improvement. Meanwhile, a vendors’ hall allowed conferees hands-on auditions of software (for scriptwriting, scheduling, and budgeting), cutting edge cameras, textbooks, lighting equipment, and audio hardware.
A highlight of the annual conference was the Thursday night picnic, held this year at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Receptions and other social events may be among the most important conference events, as they foster a professional network that connects regional universities like PennWest to schools of other sizes, tuition price-points, and academic missions. Next year’s conference is slated for Cleveland State University.