Graduate students present ‘Challenge’ to filmmakers
Event looks to refocus movie industry on Chicago talent
By Michael DesEnfants
Staff Writer

As graduation nears, students are scrambling to build their portfolios to better prepare themselves for a tight job market.

Some students looking to pad their resumé and get experience in the film industry would benefit from participating in “The Challenge,” May 23-26.

Columbia graduate students Jason Stephens and Jacky Lewkovich created “The Challenge” a Memorial Day weekend event they said will bring together all aspects of filmmaking.

The duo plans to have writers, directors, editors and actors collaborate on a series of short films.

And, they only have the extended holiday weekend to work on them.

“It is a great way for people to collaborate with each others ideas, desires and emotions, and really display people’s creative energy,” Stephens said.

The project was created after Stephens said he and Lewkovich noticed the condition of the Chicago film industry.

“Chicago has tremendous recourses to contribute.” Stephens said. “But it doesn’t have the opportunities that Hollywood has for business.”

The hope is, Stephens said, to build the Chicago film base. “We have our own stories to tell.”

And Lewkovich said their program is directed at creative people from all backgrounds, not just those studying or working in the film industry, but people with an interest in the field.

“There are no big films made here, and Chicago has to build its own community from the ground up. There are ideas out there,” he said.

According to Lewkovich, “The Challenge,” will work by giving the writers about 12 hours to write a script, which will then be handed over to actors and filmmakers who will have 24 hours to shoot the film before it goes to the editors who will have around 24 hours to edit.

Depending on the number of people who sign up, Stephens hopes to get between five and 10 movies completed.

Participants in the event are only allowed to work on three films.

The main point of the weekend, and both Stephens and Lewkovich agree, is to have fun. Aside from participants providing their own equipment, the whole weekend is free.

“It will be a great brainstorming session,” Stephens said. “We are not expecting these films to be big budget. It will be fun, it’s free, and I really think people under pressure can come up with good stuff.

“We really want to emphasize collaboration. When one group finishes their work goes to another group. It will be a slew of creativity, and know one will know how it will turn out,” he said.

Forty people have signed up as of April 21 and both Stephens and Lewkovich said they are pleased with the turn out so far.

The deadline to send in entry forms is May 17.

“It should be a fun weekend, just bring effort and artistic ways,” Lewkovich said.

Screenings will take place at Heaven Gallery, 1550 N. Milwaukee Ave., on May 26 at 7 p.m.

For more information on “The Challenge” or to sign an entry form, go to www.splitpillow.com.