Business Building Blocks

Amy Smith

Digital Cinema & TV Production Instructor

Amy is nationally-certified and has served as an instructor at MNTC in digital cinema & tv production since 2008. Before joining MNTC, Amy worked in the industry as a video production specialist. She served in technical production positions in the news industry, eventually serving as senior director overseeing all visual aspects of a newscast. In addition to teaching, Amy is also an independent filmmaker and cinematographer whose work has been an official selection for the DeadCenter Film Festival.

Business Building Blocks The Red Carpet

What is the Red Carpet Film Festival? The Red Carpet Film Festival is a collaborative effort between Digital Video Production (DVP) and Graphic Design Programs. How do students in the two programs work together?

The Red Carpet Film Festival (RCFF) is an annual film and graphic design event in Norman, Oklahoma, organized by MNTC's Digital CinemaT.V. TV Production and Graphic Design classes.

It was created in 2008 to allow students to experience deeper learning while working on extensive, industry-level projects in a collaborative environment. Students from both programs are empowered to develop complex projects that they see through from concept to distribution. Countless hours of research, planning, "pitch day " design, production, and more go into student films.

Students in both DVP and Graphic Design complete a capstone course during their second year of instruction. DVP students write, shoot, direct and edit short films. In contrast, Graphic Design students worked with an advertising agency producing this year's festival logo, movie posters, invitations, t-shirts, signage, promotional materials, and other support materials for the event.

Preparing for Success, Changing Lives, Building Better Tomorrows.

(405) 801-5000 • mntc.edu Film Festival

What other benefits have students experienced from participating in the RCFF?

This experiential learning is an opportunity for students to see a project from start to finish and interact with professionals in our industry. Students have entered their movies in other film festivals after RCFF. It also gives them demo reel material and has led to internship opportunities and beyond.

Whether it's film or graphic design, you're competing with other people to get those jobs. You're competing to win the client. You're competing for your design to be chosen. That's what we try to build in here, that it's not just another moment where it's chosen by people in the industry, and it's getting them more interaction with people in the business. And it's not teachers; we just wanted to build it in the real world, from beginning to end. It truly helps our students stand out when they leave MNTC, whether they choose to continue their education or enter the industry.

RCFF reaches beyond the walls of Moore Norman and into the professional company; how is that?

We have worked with professionals in the film and design industry to make these films possible. We have worked with Freihofer Casting to cast our productions, and we have worked with organizations in the past like ACM@UCO to compose original soundtracks made for our films. Additionally, we work with industry experts to determine what films go into production and to determine the brand and theme for that year's RCFF .

When and where is RCFF this year, and how can the community learn more?

The RCFF this year will be the evening of May 24th, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Winchester Drive-In (6930 S. Western), weather permitting. Tickets are $10 each or $40 per vehicle and can be purchased by the community online at mntc.edu/rcff or by scanning the QR code.

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Trisha Marlow

Graphic Design Instructor

Trish has served as an instructor in graphic design for more than 18 years at MNTC and holds a national board certification. Before joining MNTC, Trisha worked in the industry as a graphic designer and partner with an advertising agency creating brands and designs for businesses and organizations. She has served as a designer at a newspaper, an ad agency, and a freelance designer and illustrator.