Digital Media Production students completing their Capstone requirement this semester each wrote, produced and directed their own short film. The film functions as an artistic thesis and demonstration of cumulative skills. The Senior Capstone Short Films will be showcased to the public on Dec. 10 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at the Prytania Theatre free of charge. 

This year’s films include, “If Lost, Return To” by Tori Novie, “Flicker” by Keira Rosner, “A Broken Melody” by Aileen Harrison, “Observations of Failing Infatuations” by Grace Macauley, “Undecided” by Zack Slaff, “A Forgotten Curio Shop” by Dasha Didier, “Best Friends” by Hannah Bond, and “Workflow” by Bronwyn Olstein. 

DMP is far from the most popular major on campus, but many of the students who make the trek to the DMP lab on Freret Street will zealously preach about the myriad benefits the department offers as a creative and professional environment. 

Grace Macauley, one of the DMP seniors whose capstone project will be showcased, told The Hullabaloo a bit about this year’s coming batch of films. 

Macauley described the narrative of her own capstone project as following a couple after their honeymoon stage. 

“They’re starting to figure what things about each other annoy each other, and this is all happening while they’re being followed around by this narrator character who they don’t see, who is describing their relationship like it’s a science documentary, like it’s following animal behavior,” Macauley said. 

She also noted, however, the multitude of film genres to be represented among the capstone projects, ranging from “psychological thriller” to “sex comedy.” 

Looking at some of the influences behind these films, one underlying trait among them is the usage of personal experience in the storyline of each of the projects. 

“I think everyone wanted to make something that was decent at the very least, so I think drawing on their own experiences made the process a lot easier,” Macauley said. 

As a small department, DMP seems to be a close-knit group, likely contributing to the significance of personal narratives as they appear in the capstone films. 

While the department can sometimes be overlooked, DMP has grown in recent years and now represents Tulane’s more serious commitment to film as an artistic and intensive field of study. 

The capstone project screening offers the chance for students outside of the program to see the fruits of months of student effort and affirms the growing significance of Tulane’s Digital Media Production program.