ON CAMPUS AT OCC:Student films to debut at Newport Film Festival

Eight films created by Orange Coast College film/video students will be screened on Sunday, April 22, at the 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival. The festival runs April 19-29.

The eight student films will be shown at 11:30 a.m. in the 600-seat Regency Lido Theater, 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach. The films run a total of 72 minutes, and a question-and-answer session will follow. The student-directors will be on hand to discuss their films. Tickets will be available at the door.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that OCC student films have been showcased at the prestigious Newport Film Festival. Five films were shown in 2004, and seven were shown in both 2005 and 2006.

This year’s OCC roster of films includes “Children’s Center,” “Such Is Life,” “Mondays,” “Teamocracy,” “Overthrowing a Bishop,” “CROOKed,” “Coffee Break” and “Bicycle.”

“We have an excellent group of student films this year,” said Scott Broberg, OCC’s film/video department coordinator. “Because technology has advanced so dramatically, this year’s films are by far the most technologically sophisticated of any group of student films we’ve ever submitted to the festival. In years past, our films were story-oriented. This year they tend to be more technical in nature.”

“Children’s Center” is an eight-minute documentary about OCC’s Children’s Center, created by Anisa Delaluz of Fountain Valley and Gina Gores of Costa Mesa.

“Such Is Life” is a nine-minute psychological thriller by 23-year-old Thomas Kellogg of Irvine. It’s based on a one-act play.

“Mondays” was written and directed by Jason Wittenberg, a 19-year-old from Los Alamitos. The eight-and-a-half-minute film is dream sequence in which a Walter Mitty-like character imagines himself as a detective who solves a crime.

“Teamocracy” is a six-minute film featuring four comedy sketches. It was written and directed by Austyn Jeffs, 20, of Irvine

“Overthrowing a Bishop,” a 12-minute drama, was written and directed by Rachael Rode, 24, of Irvine. Rode will transfer to New York University next fall as a film major. “CROOKed” is a 14-minute crime drama by 20-year-old Joseph Britton of Santa Ana. Britton not only directed and edited the film, he also created the music.

“Coffee Break” is a five-minute social commentary co-written and co-directed by Marc Kharrat of Huntington Beach and Elie Ayrouth of Anaheim. “Bicycle” is an 11-minute comedy, written, directed and edited by Michael DeLeon, 28, of Westminster. The story concerns a young man who goes on a long bicycle journey to win his love back.

Though not as glamorous as the famous film schools at USC and UCLA, OCC’s Film/Video Program has built a reputation for producing graduates with a solid grasp of the technical side of movie- and video-making.

“Our program is totally hands-on,” Broberg said. “While we teach film theory and appreciation, all students in our introductory courses have a camera thrust into their hands during the first week of class.”

OCC honors its presidents

The nine permanent OCC presidents who have served the college over the last 60 years will be honored during special ceremonies Thursday evening, April 19, on campus.

OCC recently kicked off its 60th anniversary celebration. The theme for the celebration, which runs through September 2008, is “Building a Bright Future Together.”

OCC’s past presidents include Basil H. Peterson (1947-64), Norman E. Watson (1964), Robert B. Moore (1964-82), Bernard J. Luskin (1982-84), Donald R. Bronsard (1985-89), David A. Grant (1989-95), Margaret A. Gratton (1996-02), Gene J. Farrell (2002-05) and Robert V. Dees (2005-present).

Seven of the nine presidents are still living. Founding president Peterson died in 1982. He’ll be represented at the ceremony by his son, an OCC graduate. Moore died in 2003. He’ll be represented by his two sons. Watson, Luskin, Grant, Gratton, Farrell and Dees will all attend the event.

OCC’s program to honor its presidents will begin at 5 p.m. with a reception in the Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion. The pavilion is hosting OCC’s 60th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibit. The ceremony will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center Lounge, and a buffet reception will follow at 7:30 p.m.

To reserve a seat, call (714) 432-5707.

Volunteer referral fair

A fair designed to acquaint students with volunteer opportunities available in Orange County will be staged Tuesday, April 24, at OCC. The theme for the day is “Opportunity Knocks.”

Sponsored by OCC’s Volunteer Center, the event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the campus quad. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.

As many as 75 nonprofit community service agencies will set up information tables in the quad. The organizations will distribute information about volunteer activities.

Agencies that wish to participate should contact event coordinator Myra Merritt at (714) 432-0202, ext. 26456, or occvolunteercenter@gmail.com.

Fashion expert event

OCC’s Fashion Design Program will host its fifth annual Industry Experts Presentation tomorrow on campus.

Johnny Schillereff, president of Element Skateboards, one of the world’s largest skateboard companies, will speak. Element makes skateboards, clothing and shoes.

Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.

Element skateboard team members will conduct a demonstration from 4 to 5 p.m. in the quad. Schillereff will speak from 5 to 6 p.m. in the forum. A reception will follow from 6 to 7 p.m.

Previous OCC Industry Experts Presentations have featured Paul Frank, Volcom Clothing and Hurley International.