The University of Minnesota’s StudioU film club produces and writes original short films.
The club has been on campus since 2013 but underwent drastic changes around 2020. Originally conceived as more of a video journalism group, it has since transformed into a short film production club, with six films currently under production.
StudioU President Eric Patton said at its peak pre-COVID, the club had around 70 members, though membership began to deteriorate with the onset of the pandemic. Patton said there were about 15 members when he joined post-pandemic.
Patton said the group’s original organization mirrored a newsroom, with different segments only dealing with certain video portions, such as production or editorial.
Today, Patton said students can create and produce their own original films.
“Every semester, anyone can pitch a project idea at the start of the semester on pitch night,” Patton said. “We get at least 15 a semester, and then everyone votes on them to greenlight five or six.”
Patton said producing and writing a film gives students great opportunities to grow in their leadership skills.
“People get the chance to learn how to lead a group and produce a project and they get to direct their creative vision,” Patton said.
Student-produced films come with some difficulties, Patton said his role as president is to help guide the process.
Genevieve Gray, the current vice president of StudioU, is taking over the president position from Patton when he graduates this semester.
“If you talk to anyone who knows Genevieve, they’ll say we’re obsessed, and that’s cause we are,” Patton said. “We’re absolutely obsessed.”
Gray said her favorite part of the club is the community aspect.
“Eric became my best friend and he was like, we’re going to make this club a big deal,” Gray said. “And I was like, ‘Sounds good!’ and it kind of became our best friend passion project. So, it’s a massive friend group, hanging out, running a club.”
Gray’s goal for the club is consistency. She wants e five projects completed every semester and wants to raise awareness for anyone who may be interested.
Third-year student and StudioU member CJ Julstrom is currently the co-producer and co-writer for a sci-fi short film titled “Daylight.”
Julstrom said StudioU allowed her to have an extracurricular that brought a great community and fun to her college experience.
“I was so lonely and sad and bored,” Julstrom said. “I had nothing to do that was actually fun and I wasn’t meeting anybody outside of my dorm.”
Julstrom said she initially joined because one of her friends suggested it, and after joining one of the club’s short film projects, soon felt a part of the team.
“I really felt like my ideas were valued and I was heard like I was contributing to something,” Julstrom said. “It felt like this puzzle that we were working out together. We had these ideas, these characters, and we had to figure out how to put them together in a way that worked.”
Julstrom said how important the community aspect of the club was to her.
“Studio U’s community is so important and fun,” Julstrom said. “I love the people I work with in StudioU. I’ve made so many friends and I enjoy their company so much, it just feels good to make something together.”
StudioU showcases the semester’s short films at the theater at Coffman Union. Their films are also featured on their YouTube channel.
