The first student-produced high-definition film at Ball State University has earned its creator a Student Academy Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Jaron Henrie-McCrea is the first Ball State student to receive an Academy Award. His romantic comedy, "Knock Knock," is one of the two finalists in the alternative storytelling category in the 32nd annual Student Academy Awards competition.

Henrie-McCrea will be among 12 students to participate in the presentation ceremony June 12 in Los Angeles. He will receive either a gold or silver medal, along with a cash prize of $5,000 or $3,000. Winning filmmakers also will participate in a week of industry-related and social activities culminating in the presentation ceremony.

Nancy Carlson, chair of Ball State's telecommunications department and a member of the media-advocacy group Indiana Media Industry Network, called the award a testament not only to Henrie-McCrea's talents but also to the university's ability to foster creative students.

"All you have to do is to look at the competition — students have been nominated from schools like Stanford, Columbia, the University of Southern California and New York University, which are the premier film schools in the country, and Jaron's work ranks right up there with them," Carlson said. "Jaron came to Ball State as a filmmaker out of high school. He has made more than 100 short films and has won numerous awards, including several regional Emmys and the prestigious David Letterman Scholarship, all of which attests to his talent."

Chad Cooper, a senior from Rensselaer, served as the director of photography for "Knock Knock." The film featured theater and dance department actors and received sponsorship from Ball State's Center for Media Design (CMD).

The CMD is part of Ball State's digital education initiative, funded by a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The camera and editing systems Henrie-McCrea and Cooper used were purchased through the grant.

"My goal at Ball State was to learn how to tell stories effectively and to incorporate emotion into my work," said Henrie McCrea, who graduated May 7 with a bachelor's degree and will attend Columbia University in the fall. "I've developed into a much stronger storyteller, in part, because I can get my hands on high-definition cameras or work in the state-of-the-art editing bays at any time. It's a great environment."

Rodger Smith, CMD associate director and director of content, said Henrie-McCrea's film illustrates innovative digital media content increasingly being created at Ball State since the center's creation.

"Jaron is talented enough that he could produce some great films using a camcorder and VHS tape," he said. "But having access to the best equipment has helped him produce professional-quality work and bring his most innovative ideas to fruition."

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

About the Center for Media Design

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