By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The subjects in “The Study” are vying for a full-paid scholarship to the fictional University of Columbus.
This is more than research, though, something sinister lurks beneath the experiment. Only one of the subjects will win the coveted prize.
“The Study,” a five-part web series, touches on issues close to college students. That’s not surprising given it comes from the imaginations of film students and was given birth by their labor.
“The Study” will be screened for the first time Friday, May 10, at 8 p.m. in Bowling Green State University’s Donnell Theatre in the Wolfe Center for the Arts. The event is free.
“The Study” is a production of the Department of Theatre and Film’s Studio Experience class.
The series was created over three semesters, starting with pre-production work in spring, 2018, followed by production in the fall, and post-production this semester.
The Studio Experience has produced several films over the years. This is the first time, said Lucas Ostrowski, who taught the courses for this sequence, that the project undertaken was a series, rather than a feature film.
That allows students to get exposure to the increasingly popular serial form used now by premium services such as HBO and Netflix as well as traditional networks.
“The Study” was completely written and directed by students, who also filled all the jobs from cinematography, editing sound and image, through publicity.
This marks the first time students have exercised so much control, Ostrowski said. “After pre-production, I took a largely hands-off role. I let the students take real creative charge. I was there in support.”
He assisted in scheduling and monitoring progress of the various stages of the production.
In the past faculty, including Daniel Williams and Thomas Castillo, were more closely involved, even if they were not teaching the course. “It’s a real collaborative process, not just with the student body, but with the faculty and staff,” Ostrowski said.
“I feel it is important our students be in such creative roles outside of independent study projects. So much of what they’re going to do when they work professionally is working in this manner.”
Each student has a specific job based on one of the established film trades. That’s a change from when they work on other student projects where everyone has multiple roles, doing whatever it takes to get the film completed.
Shooting was done over five weekends in fall.
That meant film work pretty much accounted for all the crew’s weekends, said Sarah Rohen, who did hair and makeup during production, and then edited sound in post-production.
The Studio Experience is just part of what they are involved in. Some are also making their own films as independent study projects, or they are working with their peers to help produce those films. There’s also the 48-hour Film Festivals, in which they make short films over a single weekend.
“It was the most involved thing I’ve ever done,” said Heidi Hoffman, who recorded sound and then edited “The Study.”
Having different directors and writers for each episode posed a challenge.
“That’s what made it difficult,” said Taylor Johnson. “That’s also what made it worthwhile.”
But it also meant, Rohen said, “a lot of people were able to get more hands-on roles.”
Ostrowski said that the web series structure and the setting on a college campus opened up those possibilities. “Basically it’s much more inclusive,” in terms of ethnicity and more representative of the student body.
“I thought it was a great opportunity to work with a diverse cast,” said Johnson, who studies both computer science and film production. She aspires to work in video games.
Cinematographer Ben Chew is the only student who was involved in the project since the beginning. The junior film production major said during his time at BGSU he discovered his love of cinematography. “I just realized I was more into the technology aspect and the gear rather than directing.”
And “The Study” gave him a chance to be director of photography. “That’s something I’ve been focusing on my entire year.”
Tyler Keller, on the other hand, came to the project this semester after Ostrowski asked him to help with color grading.
In the past, he’s focused on documentaries. This is his first fiction film.
He enjoyed being able “to play with other people’s stuff.”
He plans to go into commercial work after graduation.
Chew said he sees himself freelancing in the commercial realm as well as feature films “if the opportunities allow.” Regardless, he wants to keep shooting.
Ostrowski said “The Study,” is actually six episodes with the last two are combined. All five writers collaborated on creating that final episode.
“It’s a bleakly satirical web series about students participating in a competitive research study for the opportunity to win a full-tuition scholarship to the fictional University of Columbus,” Ostrowski said. The research project is run by an outside group not in a particularly ethical manner, he said. “I wanted to make sure it reflected our current economic and social climate.”
