Grabbing for the Golden Egg
By Andrea Salisbury, 04.06.06

Virginia Beach, Va. - Filmmakers duck out from behind the camera in a night of competition for a golden hen. That’s right- a golden hen. The annual Otis film festival is a showcase of Regent University’s best filmmakers, featuring ten films with a different message.

“A Night's Work,” a film by Julio Ibanez is a dark comedic fantasy in which two exorcists clash over their respective methods.

Ibanez wants his audience to walk away with a sense of the danger dealing with uncontrollable forces.

"And the answer to all of life's questions and a million dollars," he jokes.

Graduating film student, Lauran Holton directed “Abigail,” a film of hope. “Abigail” is the story of a young woman whose body is crippled by disease and the eyes of one child who sees Abigail as God does – healthy and beautiful.

“I would like the audience to be inspired to delve beneath the surface of
ordinary life,” Holton said. “Luke 10:21 says, ‘You have hidden these things from the
wise and the prudent and revealed them to babes.’ May we all keep a
child's view of the world.”

Last year’s Golden Hen winner, Tommy Brandon has two films entered in Otis this year.

“Flutterby” is a story about a boy, a girl, and the pivotal moments that define them together, as well as apart from each other.

Brandon wants the audience to reflect on the film itself.

“After the film, I want the audience to want to take a long walk and think for a while,” Brandon said.

His second film, “Framing a Mime,” is a silent film that deals with a man who is approached by a mime. Eventually, Dan, the main character, is drawn into the world of invisible objects with fatal results.

“I want the audience to walk away with the conviction that mimes are people too,” Brandon said.

To break up the film lineup Julia Hunt will air her documentary about owners of retired racing Greyhounds, titled “Racing into Culture.

According to Hunt this culture began in the early 1990s and has evolved into a thriving culture with the help of the Internet.

“These owners have a very deep and committed relationship with their Greyhound and with other Greyhound owners,” Hunt said. “This commitment is expressed in interviews and footage of an ice cream social and a costume ball for the dogs, and a tatto contest for the owners.”

Hunt said she would like the audience to be left with a sense that there are varying degrees of emerging cultures.

“There are cultures around common interests that are developing both in real time and on the Internet in an attempt to reestablish social connectiveness,” Hunt said.

Other films that will premiere Saturday night are, Carrie Leeper’s film, “Masquerade.” Vesvoled Horodsky will show his Ex-Mas Eve trailer. Adam Hall has two films in this year’s competition, “Anniversary” and “A Mild Case of Death.” John Bayer will show, “Davey’s story.”

The Otis film festival will be Saturday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at Regent University and aired live on ReelGood.tv. Tune in and see who walks away with the golden hen.

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