麻豆传媒

During the height of the pandemic, the separation from loved ones gave Thomas Chung 鈥�22 an idea. He was inspired to write a script for a film exploring how far people would go to spend even the smallest amount of time with those they love.

When writing the script, Chung, then a communication major at the University, told a moving story of love and loss as Matt, the film鈥檚 main character, coped with the loss of his wife, Julia.

That was the beginning of In Loving Memory, a film Chung wrote and directed at the University 鈥� and for which he recently earned an from the Boston/New England chapter of the in the 鈥渨riter鈥� category.

鈥淲inning an Emmy for In Loving Memory meant the world to me, given all that we went through to get this film made,鈥� said Chung. 鈥淥ur crew had to persevere through a pandemic, multiple production shutdowns, and more on the road to telling this story. To have our film recognized made all of that time, effort, and energy worth it. It was the perfect ending to our experience making In Loving Memory.鈥�

鈥楪row our confidence in filmmaking鈥�

The film also received four honorable mentions in the fiction-long form, audio/sound, director, and photographer categories. The student film Turtle Run was also recognized, earning an honorable mention in the fiction-short-form category. The film follows two girls as they journey between ponds in search of the perfect turtle. The film鈥檚 narrative explores the ghosts people keep as well as moving forward toward acceptance.

Salvatore Gullotta 鈥�22, the film鈥檚 director, initially developed the story for his 鈥淔undamentals of Production II鈥� class. Originally an engineering student, he changed his major to communication with a focus on film production just one semester before writing and filming Turtle Run.

鈥淲hen we found out we had earned an honorable mention, it was unbelievable to me and everyone who help make Turtle Run,鈥� said Gullotta. 鈥淲e, as a group, had the expectation we were submitting it 鈥榡ust because,鈥� so we didn't think anything would come from it. I feel amazing and super confident in my ability as an editor and director going forward into my next movie.鈥�

That next movie, The Third Act, recently wrapped. It focuses on relationships and dealing with stagnation. The film鈥檚 director, Gullotta is now focused on editing, and he hopes to have it finished by the fall semester. He鈥檚 collaborating with a few music students at the University who will handle the sound mixing and compose an original score. The film will be submitted for a NATAS award in next year鈥檚 competition.

鈥淚 think the Student Emmys are a great opportunity for both inexperienced and experienced students to compete and show their work to people other than friends, family, and professors,鈥� Gullotta said. 鈥淭hey allow us to grow our confidence in filmmaking and learn how to trust ourselves.鈥�

鈥楾ruly the experience of a lifetime鈥�

The University has been well-represented at the Emmys over the past several years. Paul Falcone MBA, director of studio operations and media production; director of instructional and institutional media; and the students鈥� adviser, was very proud of their work and their success.

鈥淭his is an accomplishment that our department, and, indeed, our University can be proud of,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur students鈥� work is evaluated by members of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and compared with the work of other students from across New England. These awards are a tangible demonstration of our students鈥� talent and dedication to their craft and art. I鈥檓 sure we can look forward to even greater accomplishments from this fine group of students.鈥�

Chung, the director and writer of In Loving Memory, says working on the film was the 鈥渕ost educational learning experience鈥� he had as a 麻豆传媒. Now a videographer and editor for , a Connecticut-based photography and cinematic film production company, Chung says working on his own film while at the University gave him the necessary hands-on experience with high-caliber professional equipment.

鈥淭he entire process taught me how to work as the leader of a team and to help keep my crew motivated through all the hardship and adversity we faced together,鈥� he said. 鈥淲orking on In Loving Memory was truly the experience of a lifetime, thanks to my incredible faculty advisers, cast, and crew. It was the culmination of everything I learned during my time at the University, and it gave me a chance to realize my dream of telling stories through film 鈥� all while surrounded by a crew that was just as eager to tell this story as I was.鈥�