GCU’s film festival launches talent
By Hanna Dixon
Grand Canyon University’s Ethington Theater lobby overflows with activity all the way down the theater steps into the fresh, autumn night air. Students dressed in everything from red-carpet-ready fashion to what they wore to class that day—backpack and all—chatter about film equipment, production schedules, and script ideas. The annual Grand Canyon University 2023 Fall Film Festival is underway.
Inside the theatre, the lights dim as students, professors, and industry professionals alike file into the small, rounded theater to find their seats. On the stage stand a series of covered film posters that will reveal category winners as the evening progresses. Emilie Grimes, the host for the evening, and the director of the 2023 Best Drama and Best Picture short film, “Quirk”, waits in the wings.
A Woman in Film
Grimes grew up in the small town of Soldotna, Alaska, making home videos with her brother and dad on an old camcorder. Dressing her family members up as cowboys and forcing them to drink apple juice at her kitchen table like they were sipping whiskey at a saloon, Grimes found her passion for directing and filmmaking from a young age.
Looking at prestigious and seemingly untouchable Los Angeles film schools, Grimes didn’t feel called anywhere like she did at Grand Canyon University (GCU). The Arizona private Christian university provided a pull that was unlike any university Grimes had considered.
GCU’s Digital Film Program provides “hands-on, industry-guided courses” that develop student’s skill sets in screenwriting, production, and post-production. The program also provides multiple opportunities to network with industry professionals.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned here at GCU that has helped me in all of my film endeavors and will continue to help me in my career, is just that anything is possible,” said Grimes.
Grimes describes the energy on campus among fellow film students as very ambitious to achieve and create quality work. This attitude of ambition was infectious, giving Grimes the confidence to direct her own short film, “Quirk”, which was the first time she had directed anything on that scale, collaborating with a team of talented peers.
By Women for Women
“Directing ‘Quirk’ was super interesting because it really started with my friend and I saying ‘Why do men get to just make silly things? Why do men feel like they have this permission to just like pick up a camera and film whatever they want and just post it for all to see? Why don’t we do that?’” said Grimes.
During her time at GCU, Grimes left a legacy for the film community by pioneering the creation of The Women in Film Club with friend, collaborator, and co-founder Maggie ‘Rose’ McGinnis. The two met on a student film set where Grimes pointed out to McGinnis the male-dominated atmosphere the two women found themselves in.
“There’s definitely a lack of respect…There’s just this learned behavior that they don’t even realize was taught to them, that they just don’t necessarily value women on set in the way that they value the men on set. There’s a sort of inherent idea that the men are going to know more than the women on the set,” said Grimes.
According to a research study conducted by San Diego State University, women account for only 22% of major roles working on the 250 top-grossing films in 2023, which was just a 5% increase since 1998.
Inspired to make an actionable change on campus, the two women pitched the club to Lisa Tervo, the Chair of Digital film at the College of Arts and Media, who became the primary advisor of the club. Tervo has been an industry professional for decades and is well aware of the challenges that women face in the space, so she was eager to assist in the creation of a women-focused film club.
“I think it has been successful in helping women within the digital film department, or in the university as a whole, realize that there are other women filmmakers around that want to support each other that want to take leadership roles or tell interesting stories,” said Tervo.
While The Women in Film Club is still in its infancy, it has cultivated a stronger community among women on campus, fostering connections and a collaborative environment for students to work on projects together.
“Working with Emilie has probably changed a huge portion of my life,” said McGinnis.
The two have collaborated on several film projects together, supporting each other in their endeavors as female filmmakers. McGinnis has since taken over Grimes’ role of president for The Women in Film Club and hopes that the club creates a safe community space for women and builds their confidence in filmmaking.
At Sundance Film Festival 2024
Grimes’ debut short film, “Quirk”, follows main character Elieson as they cope with a recent break-up by deciding to try out an anonymous dating app. As a festival winner, Grimes and her crew attended the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
The Sundance Film Festival is a nationally recognized celebration of filmmaking hosted by the Sundance Institute, a nonprofit organization that focuses on artists in film and episodic storytelling, introducing global audiences to up-and-coming talent in independent filmmaking.
“I have never felt an energy like that before in my life. I am so grateful to have that experience. There was such a deep spiritual connection between us and the art that we were seeing and I got to bond with my fellow filmmakers so much during that trip,” said Grimes.
What the Future Holds
As a GCU alumna, Grimes continues to take the path toward the film industry. She hopes to write and direct features, as well as work in television as a showrunner. Grimes is currently working on directing an episodic musical entitled “Technicolor Dream Boat” meant to be viewed on social media platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok.
Grimes believes that there is a positive trend towards the film space accepting women and that the community will see major growth and change in the years to come. Grimes, and the women who’ve supported her throughout her academic journey, encourage every woman interested in film to take that chance.
“Find your community. It’s been so helpful for me to have amazing women around me,” said Grimes. “Every time I make a project, the core of it is amazing, talented women who want to make something fun.”