A short film by University of the Ozarks strategic communication major Becca Phillips has been selected for inclusion in the first Delta Flix Film and Media Festival at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Becca Phillips, a junior strategic communication major from Arkadelphia, Ark., had one of her short films selected for the Delta Flix Film and Media Festival in April.
The inaugural festival, scheduled for April 7-11, is sponsored by the ASU Department of Media and Communication and was established to "celebrate those who express their passion for storytelling through film, video, photography, and multimedia presentations."
Phillips, a junior from Arkadelphia, produced the video as part of an eight-part mini-series that was developed by the University’s Backpack Journalism class. The video series, titled "Bridging the Past and the Future: The Mulberry," was produced in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service to promote the Mulberry River region.
Phillips’ video, the second in the eight-part series, focuses on a pair of old cemeteries in the area, the Hill and Yale cemeteries. She interviewed historians Abby Burnett and Joy Russell who talked about the history of the cemeteries and the people buried there.
"Being able to meet the two experts and walk on the grounds of these cemeteries that are hundreds of years old was an experience within itself," Phillips said. "I’m not an outdoors girl, but getting to the read the stones and trudge up and down the hills was so fascinating. I think my favorite part of the experience was hearing Abby tell me the stories of the people who had died from a murder or unjust situation. I never thought that things like that actually happened. I thought it was only in movies that you get this crazy and wild stories. It really opened my eyes and helped spark an interest in looking into my past."
Phillips said she is excited about having her film screened at the first-year festival in Jonesboro. Her film is scheduled to be shown at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 9.
"I believe that the film festival will be yet another experience that will help me to grow more and learn new ways to improve my work," she said. "I’m hopeful that people will watch my video with the hopes of wanting to do their own research on their ancestors. The stories underneath the stones are truly remarkable."
Topics: Communication Studies