I Dream in Widescreen: UA film students ready for their close ups

Sofia Coppola, you’ve got some competition.

The class of 16 students who are about to graduate from the University of Arizona film program are talented, determined, and ready for their close-ups.

“I Dream in Widescreen,” the annual screening of short films by the seniors, is slated for Saturday, May 7. The movies run the gamut, from horror to drama to broken trusts to sorrow and tenderness.

“This year, it’s a very mature set of themes and characters,” says Jacob Bricca, an assistant professor in the School of Theatre, Film and Television, who guides the students in their editing class.

“There are very few films about college students. They are tackling complex and very adult issues in the sense that they are things people deal with as part of life changes, beyond the ordinary concerns.”

Student films cost about $2,000; scholarships are available to help, and the students must raise the balance. A big cost, equipment, is provided by the school.

That’s not a lot of money when you consider location costs — one student rented a home for an interior shot, another built a bathroom, which was the lone set piece in the movie.

A typical movie shoot takes three or four days, but the process doesn’t begin and end there.

“In order to get to a shoot, you’ve done a couple of months of heavy work on the script,” says Bricca. “And there are several weeks of pre-production.”

After the shoot, there is editing, sound, color correction and titles.

And, finally, the big reveal at “I Dream in Widescreen.”

THE DIRECTORS

Matt Decker

24, Tucson, director/writer, “Blue Goodbye.”

Synopsis: When their father dies, two brothers try to come to terms with who he was as a parent and what he did with his life. “It’s loosely based on relationships I’ve had, mainly with my older brother.” The whole story takes place in a blue bathroom, which Decker built for the film. “There’s always a bathroom in anything that I write.”

Favorite movie: “2001: A Space Odyssey.” “I will always make time to go see it. … The opening sequence is the best I’ve seen in my life.”

Favorite director: Stanley Kubrick, whose works include “The Shining,” “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Clockwork Orange.”

The dream: “I like writing and editing.” He prefers film, but recognizes that television can be a powerful medium. “I just want to tell stories.” LA will be his evenutal base.

Bryan McAdams

21, Tucson, writer/director, “B-Bot”

Synopsis: In a world destroyed by nuclear war a toy robot searches for his best friend and happiness in this drama. “The most difficult part was getting the robot to walk straight. It was a wind-up robot, and we had to help him maneuver.”

When first fell in love with film: “I think it started in middle school. I would get together with friends and film YouTube videos. Then I got into YouTube and got a fan base and realized this was what I wanted to do.”

Favorite director: John Lassiter, an animator and director and chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios.

Favorite movie: “When I was younger, I liked ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Lord of the Rings.’ Now it’s anything with a good story that keeps me engaged and entertained.”

The dream: “I want to try animation to see if that’s the path I want to take. If so, Pixar (is the dream). … I just want to be creative and be paid to do it.” Decker plans to save money for a move to LA next year.

Alex Guyton

23, Phoenix, writer/director, “Non-Smoking Section.”

Synopsis: A teen with a rebellious streak fights against his mom’s need to assert her authority in this comedy. “It’s a battle of wills I’ve seen so many times.”

When first fell in love with film: “I was in high school. The first film I saw that turned me on to the capabilities of the medium was ‘The Dark Knight.’ ”

Favorite director: Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight,” “Inception” and “Memento”)

Favorite movie: “ ‘The Dark Knight,’ and my favorite comedy is ‘Happy Gilmore.’ Neither is the best movie I’ve ever seen, but still my favorites.”

The dream: “To be a screenwriter, write for film and television, and perhaps direct. I like suspense and mystery, but I think I would like to write a variety of different genres.” He won’t go to LA immediately, but eventually plans to settle there.

Ana Humphrey

23, Tucson, writer/director, “Two Weeks.”

Synopsis: A relationship is threatened by a young woman’s self-destructive behavior. “I was going through a difficult breakup and it was really helpful to me to create this world that was a lot different than the relationship, but where I was in control.”

When fell in love with film: “The first time I watched ‘Fargo,’ I thought ‘Oh my God, this is a movie.’ My parents wouldn’t let me watch it when I was a kid, and I stole it from my dad’s collection.”

Favorite movie: “Romance and Cigarettes,” a 2005 movie directed by John Turturro. “It’s a very comforting movie; it feels like home.”

Favorite director: Jill Soloway, a writer/director on the Amazon series “Transparent.” “She does a lot of improvisation of dialogue and has an organic eye.” Also, Paul Thomas Anderson.

The dream: “Write and direct the stories I actually want to tell; stuff for the queer community, basically.” An eventual move to LA, Chicago or Toronto.

Dom Villarubia

25, Tempe, writer/director, “Bookends.”

Synopsis: A young, fragile woman puts her family on edge. “I just want to make movies about people, which I think a lot of movies don’t do today.”

When first fell in love with film: “It’s probably been forever. Even hearing people talk about them got me excited.”

Favorite movie: “I’d see ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ (Peter Weir, 1975) a second time.”

Favorite director: “Right now it’s Pier Paolo Pasolini.” One of the late Italian director’s movies is “Mamma Roma” (1962), which Villarubia is fond of.

The dream: “Live comfortably and create films. That’s pretty much all I want to do.” He’ll likely head to LA.

Greg Castro

22, Overland Park, Kansas, writer/director, “Blood Relations.”

Synopsis: When her beloved grandfather dies, a young waitress discovers his horrifying secret. “I did a lot of research on H.P. Lovecraft (horror fiction writer). ... I decided to tell my own H.P. Lovecraft-style story.”

Favorite television show: “A spinoff of ‘Breaking Bad,’ called ‘Better Call Saul.’ It’s good acting and I like the themes.”

Favorite director: Stanley Kubrick. “When I watch his movies, I don’t think about the filmmaking.”

The dream: “The ultimate is writing, producing television. … I like the creative and logistical parts, and to oversee the whole thing.” Movies would be fine, but he’s particularly interested in television. “ I think TV has so much more going on right now than film.” He’ll move to L.A. after graduation.

Juan Ruiz

21, Tucson, writer/director, “School for Demons.”

Synopsis: A young high school student, who has a big chip on her shoulder and goes everywhere with her not-too-competent demon, finds she must be tutored by the stuck-up smart girl in the class. “The main character is very close to who I was in high school; I alienated myself from everybody. The film became self-cleansing.”

Favorite movie: “For inspiration in creature and costume design, just everything, I think the ‘Alien’ movies. That was a legendary series.”

Favorite director: “There isn’t one director I like 100 percent. But to some extent I like Christopher Nolan (‘The Dark Knight’) for his unique style. And I admire Guillermo del Toro (‘Hellboy’) for his details and special effects makeup.”

The dream: “The number one goal is to make my own movies. I have so many ideas in my mind. I’m always imagining shots and dialogues and characters. It’s almost an addiction.” He’ll stay in Tucson to save money, then move to Washington state or New York City.

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Eric Webster

22, Tucson, writer/director, “The Magician.”

Synopsis: A man tracks down the killer of his daughter only to discover revenge isn’t as sweet as he thought. “I was interested in the idea of obsession and the idea of stalking someone. … I was interested in the in-between space, the space between the event and the revenge.”

When first fell in love with film: “I was 11 years old. It was my dad’s birthday and the whole family went to see ‘War of the Worlds.’ I sat in the theater and I was completely terrified. But as soon as I got home, I wanted to know everything I could about the movie. It was the first moment I realized movies were made by whole teams of people.”

Favorite directors: Paul Thomas Anderson (“Boogie Nights,” “There Will Be Blood”), Jim Jarmusch (“Broken Flowers,” “Coffee and Cigarettes”).

Favorite movie: “There Will Be Blood,” a 2007 drama directed by Anderson. “I was way too young to understand it, but it opened up a lot of possibilities for me. That’s why Anderson has a special place in my heart.”

The dream: “I would love to write and direct my own material. I’ve written a few things I would like to get made. Film and TV both offer unique ways to tell stories. … I’m more interested in dramatic, darker material. I’m kind of into horror.” He is LA bound after graduation.

Kaylah Rasmussen

22, Tucson, director/producer, “The Anatomy of Risk.”

Synopsis: The drama is about a young man who fears his bride-to-be will reject him if he reveals a secret he has. Fellow student Owen Lewis wrote the script. “It was my goal to make it as close to the script as possible.”

When first fell in love with film: “I’ve always loved film. I started making them in the sixth grade — making movies with friends, or by myself.”

Favorite director: “Steven Spielberg. Most of my favorite movies have been by him. I like playing with fantasy, where everything around you is believable.”

Favorite movies: “Jurassic Park” and “Indiana Jones,” both directed by Spielberg. “I tend to watch those often.”

The dream: “If I could do anything, I would direct films that can share my Christian faith. When you watch them, you don’t see it as a Christian film, but a universal film.” She’ll move to LA after graduation.

Matthew Ramirez

24, Tucson, writer/director, “Piper in the Woods.”

Synopsis: Research students claim to be turning into plants and a university psychologist is sent to investigate. Shot at the lush rain forest of Biosphere 2. Based on a Philip K. Dick short story. “Sci-fi movies and books are to my taste, so I gravitated to this story. It talked about who you are and where you are going, and told it in such a way that I immediately saw a visual way to tell the story.”

Favorite movie: “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Favorite directors: George Lucas , Christopher Nolan.

The dream: I want to direct, hopefully edit, and keep writing. He'll stay in Tucson for now and build his writing portfolio.

OTHER CREATIVES ON THE FILMS

Cora Beckett

22, Tucson, editor on “Anatomy of Risk.”

When first fell in love with film: “Growing up, I had favorite films (‘Harry Potter’ was one) and watched them on loops over and over; they were like comfort food.”

Favorite directors: Stanley Kubrick, Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”), David Lynch (“Blue Velvet,” “Eraser Head”).

Favorite movie: “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” a 2014 Iranian horror film directed by Ana Lily Amirpour.

The dream: To shoot, direct and edit independent documentaries about social justice issues. After graduation, she and her sister will move to New York and start a production company.

Jiaxin Zheng

22, Chengdu, China, editor, “School for Demons.”

When first fell in love with film: “I preferred to study music, but my parents didn’t support me, so I chose a related industry. I was thinking in the future I could do music videos, but after I started, I loved it and I forgot about my original idea. I love editing and documentaries.”

Favorite documentaries: “Gimme Shelter,” “Whores’ Glory.” “Whore’s Glory,” directed by Michael Glawogger, is a 2012 documentary studying the lives of prostitutes from Thailand, Bangladesh and Mexico. “They aren’t treated as humans, and they should be. They should be respected as humans.”

Favorite directors: David and Albert Maysles, directors of “Gimme Shelter,” the 1970 documentary about The Rolling Stones 1969 U.S. tour.

The dream: “I really want to be an editor. I love to put pieces together. Other than that, I want to do documentaries … I want to show the real world to the audiences.” She’ll move to LA and hopes to work with an international film company that can make use of her knowledge of both the Chinese and American cultures.

Robert Upchurch

22, cinematographer on “Two Weeks,” “B-Bot,” and “Non-Smoking Section.”

When first fell in love with film: “I can’t remember that far back; I’ve always been in love with it. Originally I wanted to be an actor, then I learned about the other roles in (making) films and the acting bug went away.”

Favorite director: Denis Villeneuve, director of “Sicario” and the upcoming “Blade Runner” sequel. “He has a really good understanding of cinematography. His films are beautifully shot and I really admire the camera movement in his films.”

Favorite movie: “Too many to name.”

The dream: “I want to be a producer. I want to be more hands on working with a script through development. ... I’m also open to new dreams.” He’ll move to either LA or Toronto after graduation.

Dillon Ramage

23, Sierra Vista, sound editor/mixer on “Two Weeks, “Blue Goodbye” and “Bookends.”

He did not direct because “I didn’t have a script I really liked. And I got to work with people I had worked well with in the past.”

When first fell in love with film: “I always liked watching movies, but didn’t fall in love with them until I was in high school. I watched ‘American Beauty’ with a friend and had never seen anything like it. I realized the storytelling and art in movies.”

Favorite director: “I’m a big fan of David Lynch. The stories are very surreal, and there’s always something underneath. He’s so mysterious.”

Favorite movie: “My Own Private Idaho,” a 1991 film directed by Gus Van Sant.

The dream: “I’m figuring it out as I go along. I didn’t know I would study film; I kind of fell into it. I want to do something creative, whatever the art form may be. I’m really interested in photography.” If he does go into making movies, he would like to do “independent movies with queer themes.” This summer he’ll commute to Phoenix to work on a feature film.

Gilbert Rataezyk

25, Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, cinematographer on “The Magician, “Bookends” and “Blood Relations.”

When first fell in love with films: “Probably in middle school. My dad worked at a school in Saudi Arabia and one of his jobs was to make a video for the graduating students, and … I was exposed to what he was doing. … And my family had a big interest in the behind the scenes in films. Sometimes, before we would watch movies, we would look at the behind-the-scene footage.”

Favorite cinematographer: Larkin Seiple. He works a lot in music videos and does a lot with a great director named Hiro Murai. ...The work they do together is just spectacular. Then there’s the director of photography for feature films Alwin Küchler. He was the director of photography on ‘Steve Jobs.’ I just love his work; his ability to immerse himself in the story is really great and he can convey an emotional story visually.”

Favorite movie: “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer,” 2006 directed by Tom Tykwer. The thriller “is so well captured visually. The story was great and I fell in love with the music.”

The dream: “To continue working as a director of photography on narrative films, and possibly go into music videos.” He expects he’ll eventually move to LA.

Owen Lewis

21, Tucson, writer, “Anatomy of Risk.”

Genesis of the story, about a young man with a secret he’s scared to reveal: “I wrote the story last summer after having an argument with my girlfriend. It’s easy for me to feel judged by people, and that translated into there has to be vulnerability.”

When first fell in love with film: “I was probably 9 or 10. I watched the making of ‘The Odyssey’ on DVD. I thought it was really cool.”

Favorite film: “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” 2010 fantasy film about a young man who must defeat evil forces to win a woman’s heart.

Favorite director: Edgar Wright, whose films include “Scott Pilgrim” and “Shaun of the Dead.”

The dream: “To live in a small cabin somewhere in the woods — probably Finland — and write novels.” He’ll soon marry and they’ll stay in Tucson while he continues to write.