'Delphis' award community artists

By Matt von Boecklin

Movie-lovers in Delphi can become movie stars -- for about five to ten minutes -- when the first-annual "Delphis," an Oscar-like sho* for student made films, opens May 9.

The idea for the sho* was first suggested by Richard Bersamina, a community facilitator of Swig's fifth floor, during a Residential Learning Community meeting. Though originally thrown out as a joke, other CFs liked the idea.

Delphi, the arts RLC, is not ne* in hosting such a talent event. The community also puts on "Lounge Acts," an evening class featuring the filmography of Stanley Kubrick, and, just recently, a scheduled 'jam session' for anyone with an instrument who wished to participate.

Until now, students have not had the opportunity to sho* any cinematic talent in Swig.

"We have Lounge Acts, but there is so much more to art than just singing and guitar, which seems to dominate the show," Bersamina said.

"There are so many more ways to express one's self. The Delphis is going to be an outlet for other talent in Delphi to surface and be recognized," he said.

Students are given several weeks to produce a short film and then submit it for revie* before the big night. Any Delphi resident can enter. Submitted films are screened for explicit content and judged by a panel of CFs. The five best will be showcased May 9.

If any student has ever made a two-minute movie for a communication class, or a film in an ethics class, they've probably realized that after all their efforts, only a handful of students actually get to appreciate their final work.

But members of Delphi say they want more.

"We thought, 'Hey, why not give the film makers a chance to sho* their work to a much greater audience?'" Bersamina said.

Submitted genres range from documentary to "mockumentary" to "rockumentary" (think "This is Spinal Tap"), drama, romance and anything in between.

One Delphi resident, Leyna Roget, has created a film that "gives a glimpse into the uniting element among Santa Clara's students."

One obstacle towards the success of this Oscar-imitation night impends, however: time. With a rigorous spring midterm season having just no* passed, most students have had little time to cultivate ideas for films, let alone shoot them.

"I just didn't have the time," says Mike Bieringer, a current Delphi resident, "The process of shooting and editing takes too long when work and homework cut in."

In addition to showcasing films, awards like best actor, actress, cinematography and picture will be handed out.

Specifications for entries are as follows: verbal expletives are permitted, while glorifying the illegal use of alcohol or graphic sexual content will result in disqualification.

Filmmakers were given a 10-minute time limit to "be creative -- and to avoid boring their audience," Bersamina said.

"We want people to enjoy attending, not get stuck watching hours of movies."

While the festival allows residents to express themselves, it also gives them a chance to fine-tune their skills. "I wanted to practice editing and filming while having fun," Roget said.

*Contact Matt von Boecklin at (408) 554-4546 or mvonboecklin@scu.edu.