Tell us a scary story, but leave out the gory details

Sept. 12, 2010NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- Are you too old to dress up for Halloween? Have you become de-sensitized to the gore and violence of today's horror films? What better way to get into the spirit of the Halloween season than to create a thriller yourself? Thanks to Audio Visual Services, Titan Radio, and WCN, the opportunity has come for faculty, staff and students alike, with a reward to boot.


The Titan Terror Project, a short film contest and showcase, requires a twisted, thrilling, or mysterious mini-movie without the use of graphic violence and gore, challenging film makers to use a variety of film making tactics to create suspense that engages their audience. The film showcase will take place October 20, 2010 at Noon in Mueller Theater. Thus, the "dead" line will be October 1st.

Creator and Broadcast Communications faculty member, Bradley Weaver, expressed his hopes for the contest to engage the amateur moviemaker.

"I was trying to tap into the anticipation, mood and season of October and Halloween," Weaver explained. "We wanted to take the excitement from the mini-movie project I use in my video production class and movie it to an all-campus project."


Weaver presented the idea to AV Director Gary Swanson, who thought it would provide a great feature event for the annual AV WEEK celebration that occurs about the same time in October.

"We loved the idea," Swanson shared, adding that it was another great cooperative opportunity between the departments that could become an annual event.


Students, faculty and staff can enter free of charge. Swason says he encourages movie makers of all experience levels to participate. Applicants may use cell phones, Flip Video cameras, or any digital camera for their production. Those in need of this type of equipment can borrow these items through Westminster's Audio Visual Services office.

Weaver suggests using a few free editing computer applications.

"Software like Microsoft Moviemaker or iMovie on the Mac.even YouTube allows the regular person to explore digital movie making," Weaver pointed out. "Movie-making use to be a pretty scary, but the folks leading this project say that just isn't so any more, and now with the AV resources available to the Westminster community, lack of resources is no excuse."

Details and entry packets for the Titan Terror Project can be picked up personally at the AV Office or found online at:
http://www.westminster.edu/student/orgs/radio/Titan_Terror_Project/Titan_Terror_Project.html