"Perspective," a short film by telecommunications majors Travis Hatfield and Samuel Day, who served as co-directors, earned the gold medal and a cash prize of $5,000 in the alternative category.

The film's actors are Ball State theatre and dance majors, including leads Kelsey Richardson-McClarnon and Carley Cornelius and supporting cast members Sara Haworth and Peter Hawn. Andy Burt, a 2005 Ball State graduate from theatre and dance, wrote the story, and Julie Mills, a telecommunications major, served as coproducer.

Hatfield and Day participated in a week of industry-related events leading up to the June 10 awards ceremony, and the duo kept telling themselves they didn't care if they received the gold or silver medal because the experience was worth more than a medal or cash award.

"But when we found out we won the gold, it was instantly harder to breathe for a second," said Hatfield, who graduated in May. "Then it was what you anticipate it would be. I was trying to remember my speech, and getting the award from (film director) Kevin Smith was a total blur. It was awesome, and I can't imagine a better feeling."

Day said the winning moment was made even more special by having members of the crew and their families present at the ceremony.

"Right when we heard the silver winner announced and it wasn't us, we knew we had won the gold, and both of our moms grabbed our arms," Day said. "It is somewhat overwhelming, too, because we knew what winning two years in a row would mean to Ball State. We're on the map in Los Angeles, and people there know the university produces quality films, so this was exciting for Ball State."

Last year, the university received its first Student Academy Award, and the first for a college or university in Indiana, with Jaron Henrie-McCrea's movie "Knock Knock."

"This is another major win, and our success over the past two years is causing people in the film industry and in academe to recognize that Ball State is a destination point in the Midwest for students interested in cinema," said Rodger Smith, associate director of Ball State's Center for Media Design (CMD), who served as the film's executive producer.

"What makes us unique among the award recipients is that while some film students hire professional actors, Ball State's award winners have been telecommunications students in the College of Communication, Information, and Media working together with theatre and dance majors from the College of Fine Arts, with the Center for Media Design fostering their collaborative efforts."

Hatfield and Day also thanked Rich Swingley, telecommunications instructor, and Michael O'Hara, associate professor of theatre, for advising and encouraging the crew. Day also credited Brad Ritchie, a music major at the University of Louisville, who wrote the score. 

"I think one of the things we realized even before we made the film was that it takes more than one person to make a film, and we picked people who cared the most about this project," Hatfield said. "I think every member of the crew, no matter how big or small their part, can say this is 'my movie' because each person put a great deal of effort into it."

Day, who will be a senior this fall, says he hopes to duplicate his success next year.

Smith also is the director of Ball State's Institute for Digital Entertainment and Education (IDEE), one of three institutes created by the university with funding from a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. IDEE and the CMD produced "Perspective" in cooperation with the College of Fine Arts and the College of Communication, Information, and Media.

IDEE will work with Ball State's seven academic colleges to create innovative curricula and experiences that immerse future students in the skills required to work in all aspects of the film and television industries, Smith said.

A second institute, the Institute for Intermedia and Animation, is also geared toward the entertainment industry and will prepare students interested in the three-dimensional animation industry by centering on an animation studio that will immerse students in the production of intermedia art and 3-D animation.

To reach the finals of the Student Academy Awards, the students competed in one of three regional competitions. Each of those regions is permitted to send to the academy up to three finalist films in each of the four categories.

The Student Academy Awards were established in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level.

About the Center for Media Design
The Center for Media Design (CMD) is a research and development facility focused on the creation, testing and practical application of digital technologies for business, classroom, home and community.

(Note to editors: For more information, contact Hatfield at (765) 713-8300, Day at (502) 544-0649, and Smith at rsmith@bsu.edu or (765) 285-8756. Photos of Day and Hatfield receiving their awards may be accessed by completing the academy's online registration form at  http://photos.oscars.org/apply.php. Conditions for use of the photographs are also posted on the academy's Web site.)