By Ryan Downs

Senior Staff Writer

For the last several years, Professor Rebecca Lush has served as the coordinator for one of CSUSM’s more elusive programs: Film Studies.

With 15 students currently involved, as well as countless teachers and classes across multiple disciplines, CSUSM’s film program features classes to instruct students on how to understand and analyze both independent and studio films. However, as Prof. Lush was keen to point out, the program has a lot of growing still to do, as currently only a minor is offered. However, with only 18 units spanning a wide variety of courses, Lush hopes it will attract the attention of those with a mind for film.

“It provides a great opportunity for students who enjoy watching and analyzing film,” Professor Lush said, who teaches the Children’s Literature into Film class.

While there is not a huge focus on directing or creating film, which would belong more in the field of video production, Lush is confident that providing an education in critical analysis in the film medium is a more than worthy endeavor in its own.

“Critical analysis is something that can help people in multiple walks of life,” she said.

However, the class does provide collaboration with the video production program. It also works with history, literature and independent study classes, along with the obligatory film studies classes.

“In fact, the majority of professors in Literature and Writing are involved with the program,” Lush, who is also a Literature & Writing professor, said.

But the program offers far more to the campus than just classes. The program also facilitates film showings on campus, free for students. Recently this included the independent film Winter in the Blood, which premiered to a sold-out theater on campus on Wednesday, March 26. It featured a discussion panel with co-directors Alex and Andrew Smith, screenwriter Kevin White and one of the actresses in the film, Casey Camp-Horenik. Generally, there is little more than one or two film showings a year, but they often prove to be popular events.

The program co-sponsors, along with the Video Production minor, the yearly Student Media Festival, in which students may submit and display short films or other media created as assignments for courses on campus. This is another way to celebrate the film medium and student’s involvement with it.

The Student Media Festival, which is currently in its ninth year, will be hosted from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on May 9 in Arts 111. Students are encouraged to submit work they have created in the last two academic years for a chance to win prizes and to show their films to the public. Submissions must be sent in by 5 p.m. on May 1. For more information, students can go to https://www.csusm.edu/vpa/mediafest/index.html.

For more information on the Film Minor, students may look online at http://www.csusm.edu/filmstudies/, or contact Professor Lush via email at [email protected].