CRU Films, Spring '06
('05 Cru Films)

          The Departments of Communication/Dramatic Arts and BITS/Computer Graphics Design at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor announce the production of two original films, Bullets at Twilight and Dumb Love. UMHB Performance Studies and Computer Graphics Design Faculty continue to produce short, Cru films with their students and Austin independent film professionals.

         The screenplay, Bullets by Twilight, has been written by David Lee Koontz, a UMHB English Major and Performance Studies student.  In this film, which takes place in the Old West, a boy has a chance encounter with a desperate outlaw. The young man then has to make hard choices. Will he choose the father who torments him or the promise of freedom and the unknown?  The screenplay, Dumb Love, is by A.D. Carrell. He is a UMHB Art Major and Cru Films student. In this film, we see what happens when two people with different disabilities meet under the strangest of circumstances.  We also view what happens when the circumstances begin to resemble those of 20th c, silent films.  Will there be romance? Will there be an arrest?  

          The following are Spring Cru Film Staff. The Co-Producers are Dr. Diane Howard (Performance Studies Director & Faculty) and Mrs. Donna Teel (BCIS/Computer Graphics Design Faculty). Ms. Teel is also the Post Production Supervisor. The Project Supervisor is Mr. Michael Fox (Performance Studies Instructor.) The faculty supervisor for Bullets at Twilight is Mr. Michael Fox and the faculty supervisor for Dumb Love is Mr. Eric Shephard (Performance Studies Faculty). The Student Director for Bullets at Twilight is Justin Golden (Performance Studies Major) and Student Director for Dumb Love is Deann Graham (BCIS/Computer Graphics Design Major). The Casting Supervisors are Tara Felmly (Performances Studies Major) and Step Rowe (Professional, Austin Film Coach).  Tara Felmly, Step Rowe, and Eric Shepard are script editors. Step Rowe is talent coach.  Jonathan Owens, Eric Doggett, and Raymond Muniz are the film score contributors.  The Art Supervisor is Ms. Barbara Fontaine- White (Art Faculty). Mark Leech is the artist for movie posters and DVD covers. Art students involved in production of movie posters and DVD covers include the following: Joe Ahlert, Adam Carrell, Lisa Jones, April Lambert, Lindsey Morton, Sean Pearson, Willie Trent, Ella Freeman and Jessica Moore.

             UMHB Film Faculty reviewed screenplays developed in the fall screenwriting course, taught by Mr. Eric Shepard.  They selected screenplays for production in the spring semester. Prospective cast and crew submitted resumes and auditions forms. Potential cast auditioned on film and submitted headshots. The entire film production team has involved approximately 40 individuals. The production assistants, boom operators, slaters, grips, gaffers, editors, actors, set dressers, costumers, prop masters, location scouts, make-up artists, and post production staff  roles have been assigned to UMHB students, faculty, or associates of the University who have been invited to be a part of this project. Outside, qualified sources have been engaged to provide equipment and technical support.

             In Bullets at Twilight, Dallin Hulet plays the role of Samuel, Stephen Lee plays Hayes, and Michael Fox performs Dougherty. In Dumb Love, Johnny Vacca is Charlie, Erin Farris plays Mary, Ashley Rene Hallford performs Sarah, Steve Nelson is Jim, Deann Graham plays the Bag Lady, and passersby include Benjamin Carder, Adam Carrell, Donya Fagan, Tyna Hammond, Tara Felmly, Mary Susan McGarr, Kyle Tubbs, Adrian Turner, Sri Fulton, Steve Nelson, Brittany Golden, Brooke Bennett, Eric Shephard, and Adrian Turner.            

Crew for Bullets at Twilight includes Timothy Walker as the Editor, Script Supervisor, and Grip; Stacy Beckwith as 1st Camera Assistant; and Jessica Moore as 2d Camera Assistant, Production Photographer, and DVD Producer. Ross Akers, Edgar Garcia, Layne Grisham, Andrew Wolfe, and Devon Toombs are Production Assistants.  Andrew Wolfe is Boom Operator. Brooke Bennett is Continuity Crew, Patsy Cook is Slater, and Adam Carrell is Behind the Scenes Videographer and Property Master. Steve Nelson is Costumes and Set Dresser. Tyna Hammond is Make-Up Artist and DeAnnn Graham is her assistant. Ross Akers, Layne Grisham, Devon Toombs, and Adam Carrell are Crafts Service Crew. 

            Crew for Dumb Love includes Patsy Cook as 1st Assistant Director and Editor. Joe Kentspeth is Key Grip, Gaffer, and Technical Advisor. Andrew Wolfe and Jessica Moore are Camera Operators. Billy McDowell is the composer for the Original Song, "You're Mine," and its Lyricists are Deann Graham and Aimee Baird. Jessica Moore is DVD Producer and Location Manager. Steve Nelson is a Production Assistant and Brooke Bennett, Edgar Garcia and Justin Golden are Grips. Edgar Garcia and Timothy Walker are Boom Operators and Mary Susan McGarr and Steve Nelson are Script Supervisors. Katrina Doyle, Steve Nelson and Mary Susan McGarr are Continuity Crew. Tyna Hammond is Slater and Makeup Artist. Adam Carrell is Behind the Scenes Videographer and Adrian Turner is Set Dresser. Tara Felmly is Props Mistress. Donya Fagan, Sri Fulton, Brittany Golden, Jessica Moore, Steve Nelson, Kyle Tubbs, Tim Walker, and Andrew Wolfe are Grips. Ross Akers, Brooke Bennett, Adam Carrell, Layne Grisham, Steve Nelson, Benjamin Carder, Kyle Tubbs, and Donya Fagan are Crafts Services Crew. Brooke Bennett and Sri Fulton are Security Crew. Sadie Graham and Jon Graham are Special Assistants to the Director. Adrian Turner is Master Scooper. 

            Special gratitude is extended to  the following: Pastor Billy & Gail Sanders, Trinity Living Center, Copperas Cove, Texas; Pastor Brandon "Rex" Sanders, X-treme Uth, Cove Theater, Copperas Cove, Texas; Jackie & Denver Mills, Tablerock Amphitheater; Starbuck's of Killeen, Tim Cantway - Coffee Master; Starbuck's of Temple, Donya Fagan- Pastry Primadona; and to Michael Morlan.