Starting this semester, Guilford students interested in film do not just have to enjoy their hobby on the side anymore – they can use it towards a concentration. A “film and video” track is now part of the Guilford catalog of concentrations, listed as one of two tracks in theatre studies. Students concentrating in it must take 17 course hours as well as create a thesis film at the end.

“It’s unusual to have a film program at a small liberal-arts college,” said Professor of Theatre Studies Jack Zerbe. “Fortunately, there is a strong enough demonstrated interest in film here that we wanted to make this proposal happen.”

The strong interest came mostly from students in film classes, who felt that the credit they received should go towards something other than just electives.

“It seemed silly that we had all these film classes that didn’t add up to a degree of some kind,” said senior Noah Forman, a film concentrator.

“Students kept asking me, and we kept talking about it,” said Assistant Theatre Studies Professor Chad Phillips, who teaches many of the film classes. “The more there were people interested in film classes, the more we said there should be a concentration.”

A year ago, Phillips and Zerbe drafted a proposal for the concentration. After a series of revisions, it was submitted to a committee and approved. Currently, Forman is the only official concentrator, but the program is expected to expand.

“At least a dozen people are interested. As soon as the word gets out, there will be a lot more than that,” said Phillips.

“It’s a really great medium, but there isn’t enough awareness,” said first-year film student Isabel Kelliher. “There are a lot of people who love film and could be really great at it, but they don’t know about it.”

One way of raising awareness is by hosting a film festival, such as The Homegrown Film Festival, scheduled for the end of April. It will feature films by Guilford students in three categories: documentary, narrative and experimental/animation. The Homegrown Film Festival is currently open only to Guilford students, but that may eventually change.

“When we do this at a bigger scale than just the college, I want it to be something that will distinguish us,” said Zerbe. “For now, it’s great to just have a place for students to show their work.”

Entries for the festival can be submitted to Phillips’ mailbox starting now. They must be in either DVD or VHS format.

In addition to awareness, a challenge that the film program faces is the availability of equipment on campus. IT&S offers cameras, microphones, and laptops with editing software for rent, but both getting a hold of and using these can be a problem.

“I was filming some of the walk out, and I missed a lot because I had to run to IT&S and fill out the paperwork. Then I had a fine of $2 because it was a little late,” said Kelliher. “It’s limited access to very poor equipment, and it really puts a damper on things.”

“We definitely don’t have the equipment yet that we’re going to need, but I think that part of the challenge is dealing with what we have. We have the equipment to at least create something that has artistic value or merit to it,” said Forman.

As the program expands, so will the equipment available. Another area Zerbe hopes to see expand is the amount of student films that tie in with Guilford’s activist nature by highlighting community issues and concerns.

“I’m hungry for students to take on something substantive that’s either a concern in Greensboro or here on campus that shedding light on through the lens of a camera would help us understand better,” said Zerbe.

The film program will continue to grow in the coming years, but not so far as to establish a film major. Creating a major would require many more resources than are available now, according to Phillips and Zerbe.

“To go to the realm of major is light years ahead of where we are now,” said Zerbe. “That we have at least a concentration is very exciting.”

Regardless of the limitations, those involved in the program feel that as long as students continue showing interest and support, the concentration will do well.

“The more people that know about it and care about it, the further the film program’s going to go,” said Kelliher.

“It’s going to start out and build. There’s enthusiasm here,” said Phillips.