Students served as the primary cast and crew of “Spiral.”
A film developed in a cross-disciplinary class in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) has received two New York Emmy Award nominations.
Students in Acting and Filmmaking for Social Change (FIL 500) served as the primary cast and crew of “Spiral,” a short film exploring the mental health of college students. The film was nominated for Best Director and Societal Concerns.
Co-teachers and the film’s directors Adria Dawn, instructor in the Department of Drama and Department of Film and Media Arts, and David Tarleton, professor and chair of the Department of Film and Media Arts, brought students into the filmmaking process, including input on story and dialogue.
“We knew we wanted to make a film about college students in America but that felt extremely broad. Could we hone and carve that into something engaging and specific with this particular group?” say Dawn and Tarleton. “Luckily, they were all in with us.”
Dawn brought in drafts of the script for students to workshop. After each read through, students added details that advanced the draft into a final product.
“I wanted to write something they all felt good about, while also making sure the actors in the class each had a moment of screen time,” Dawn says. “It was a tough balance to strike and a good challenge.”
Students assisted with lighting setup on the set of “Spiral.”
Students stepped into roles like wardrobe coordinator, gaffer, art director and more to make the film a reality. Adversity only made the group stronger, such as when a tornado warning forced them into the Nancy Cantor Warehouse basement during filming.
The project also introduced students to other professionals working across the U.S., such as composer Andrew Edwards and wardrobe supervisor Sarah Pace, who talked about their roles via Zoom meetings.
The film also involved other VPA faculty members, including Adam Raymonda as sound designer and Alec Barbour as intimacy coordinator.
Dawn and Tarleton will travel to New York City for the 69th Annual New York Emmy Awards Creative Arts Ceremony and Gala on Saturday, Oct. 10. At least two students, now alumni, will also make the trip.
Whether or not “Spiral” picks up a New York Emmy, Dawn and Tarleton are thrilled with the film and its journey.
“We want everyone to know that when we are there, win or not, we are proud of the work that each and every person did for this film,” they say. “We’re grateful, and we’ll take each of them with us in spirit.”
Spiral
Cast
- Magdaliz Rivera* (Emma)
- Connor Tell* (Matthew)
- Jonah Kaminsky* (Koda)
- Joshua Beck* (Pieter)
- Sofia Peralta* (Isabel)
- Dianna “Gracie” Whaley* (Madison)
- Flynn Marcus* (Chance)
- Amelia Gallagher* (Student Presenter)
- Hannah Kobayashi* (Someone New)
- Emma Mills* (Additional Student)
- Karl Lamb Jr.* (Additional Student)
- Sammy Overton (Additional Student)
- Khayman Clancy (Additional Student)
- David Gilmore (Emma’s Dad)
- MJ Mattiaccio (Professor Sims)
Additional Credits
- Directors and Producers: Adria Dawn† and David Tarleton†
- Writer: Adria Dawn†
- Director of Photography and Editor: David Tarleton†
- Intimacy Coordinator: Alec Barbour†
- Sound Designer: Adam Raymonda†
- Gaffer: Yushan Liu*
- Key Grip: Tevvon Hines*
- Grip/Electric: Khayman Clancy
- Art Director: Xiwen Luo*
- Assistant Director: Yunqi Ouyang*
- Social Media Manager and BTS: Kai Bason*
- Wardrobe Coordinator: Sofi Shuliak*
- Script Supervisor: Lanya Cui*
- Location Sound: Philip Martins*
- Craft Services: Elizabeth Hendrigan*
- Composer: Andrew Edwards
- Wardrobe Supervisor: Sarah Pace
* Syracuse University student
† Syracuse University faculty member