Lights, camera, action!
MovieFest will showcase best student movies Wed.
Jaime Joshi
Issue date: 3/5/07 Section: News
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"One day, I'm just minding my own business being a congenial, funny guy, and I get whaled in the stomach with an umbrella," Struckhoff said as he lifted his shirt to reveal a bright red welt.
The scene in question, like the film, is a parody of campus elections. Struckhoff plays the over-eager political promoter, and extra Tonguc Oztek plays the harried student just trying to get to class without being hassled. In a moment of frustration, Struckhoff's character throws his campaign literature at Oztek and a chase ensues. It was at this point that Struckhoff's umbrella-wielding assailant, unaware that the incident was fabricated for film, smashed into the young auteur.
"I don't think he knew we were making a movie," electrical engineering major Keegan Garcia said. "I think he was just trying to be a Good Samaritan."
'Good Sam' later tracked down Struckhoff to apologize for the mistake.
"Yeah, he had no clue we were shooting," Struckhoff confirmed. "He was just trying to help out Tonguc."
Dealing with impromptu dissent is one of the hazards of creating politically charged pieces, although in the case of Poli Sci, the film is more parody than scathing indictment of the administration.
"The movie is kind of a mockery of the Eingold/Smith campaign and how they've plastered their faces everywhere," Struckhoff said, referring to SGA hopefuls Eric Eingold and Austin Smith. "If you're a UCF student, you can probably relate to it."
The filmmakers - consisting of Struckhoff, Garcia, mechanical engineering major Chad Rhode, graphic design majors Will Bristol and Blair Remington, psychology major Drew Hampton and film major Alex Sushil - are entering Poli Sci in Campus MovieFest.
"I actually found out about the festival from the Future," Garcia said. "I was waiting for a smoothie; I picked up the paper and saw an ad for it. I called Sam and literally ran over."
Struckhoff corroborated the tale of Garcia's enthusiasm with a grin.
"He showed up at my dorm, red-faced and waving a paper around," Struckhoff said. "He was pretty pumped."
In addition to being excited about making a short film, Garcia also appreciated the historic aspect of entering the festival.