PRESS RELEASE Point Loma Nazarene University
Contact: Jonathan Pickett (661) 433-5814 Point TV
Channel 23 Advisor: Alan Hueth (619) 849-2358
Date: September 24, 2015
Written by: Jonathan Pickett
Point TV Film Forum to Feature Alum Filmmaker
PLNU alum Jared Callahan’s feature-length documentary marks the 21st film from a student or alum to get into a festival. In this case, it was an official selection in many festivals, including the San Diego Film Festival. Point TV’s upcoming Film Forum on October 5th will feature a screening of the documentary, entitled “Janey Makes a Play,” as well as a question and answer discussion with Callahan.
This is Callahan's debut feature documentary, though he has worked on other short and narrative films as director, producer and cinematographer. He was an assistant director on other PLNU alum’s films like Destin Cretton’s award-winning “Short Term 12” and “I Am Not a Hipster.” “Janey Makes a Play” follows a dynamic 90-year-old playwright as she produces and directs her new original community theatre production for the small town in which she lives. The production began in August of 2012, and Callahan took to Kickstarter in order raise funds to complete the film.
“Janey Makes a Play” will be screened at San Diego Film Festival on October 4th, the day before the film forum. It will also be shown as an official selection and LA Indie Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and others.
Point TV Station Manager Caleb Daniels says that Callahan is a gifted storyteller who will speak truth and entertain those in attendance. “Having spoken with Jared, what he has learned in producing a feature-length documentary and working with film festivals is invaluable for those students hoping to enter the film industry,” he said.
PLNU’s film forums aim to engage film students, film enthusiasts and professors in in-sightful and inspiring conversations about media with industry-experienced individuals. Last se-mester’s forum hosted two time Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale (“Arrested Development,” “Veep”). Others in the past have included writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton (“Short Term 12”), producer Ralph Winter (“X-men” series, “Star Trek”) and many others.
Dean Treadway of the Atlanta Film Festival said, “Callahan's film stands as a testament to a woman with fiery spirit and a bottomless creative drive, yes, but it also serves as an ultimate-ly touching ode to the adrenaline-pumping joys to be had in simply putting on a show. It's re-markably assured, sweet-natured stuff and not to be missed.”
Since 2005, PLNU student and alum films have been featured in over 30 festivals and have received 22 awards.
The forum is open to the entire PLNU community and will be held in Crill Auditorium on PLNU’s campus starting at 7:00pm.
For more information regarding the film forum or Jared Callahan, please contact Alan Hueth at AlanHueth@pointloma.edu or Jonathan Pickett at Jonathanpickett888@pointloma.edu.
