By Cleo Jones/reporter

A film festival allowed students to express their creativity by creating their own horror films and showcasing them.

Few open seats remained in the Recital Hall on South Campus as students, faculty, staff and community members gathered for the Film Club’s Horror Film Festival where designated student artists displayed their original work.

South speech instructor Molly Floyd said her favorite parts of the festival were seeing the students’ films and them having the chance to show them off to others in the audience. 

She said she loved seeing their films as well as the opportunity for students to share them with an audience

Floyd hosted the festival with the help of instructional television manager and video support services John Gonzales, who described the Film Club as a “giant sandbox” for students to play in and learn collaboration through creating their art.

“It’s great to see them apply what they learned through the [Film] Club,” Gonzales said. 

South student Benjy Martinez, who is majoring in film, entered two original works into the festival. One was Something in the Attic, which is about a family that finds out who the real monsters are. 

The other film he entered was 3AM, which is about a haunting premonition.

Martinez said that when it comes to horror, he aims for simplicity.

“The less dialogue the better,” he said, adding that sounds, camera angles and action are used in its place.

Martinez’s advice to newcomers to the Film Club is to not fall in love with their own work and be prepared for negativity.

South student Zach Blackwell, a cyber security major, said his true passion is filmmaking and he was able to show that at the festival. Blackwell showcased his films The Severity of Sleep and One in the Oven.

“I love movies that are designed to make me think [and] filmmakers that don’t hold your hand through the entire story that make you witness something, feel something, but make you figure it out for yourself,” Blackwell said.

South student and communications major Megan Towery displayed her first film The Devil’s Whispers, which is about trusting voices from the dark. 

She said joining the Film Club has helped her progress with her craft.

“Practice makes perfect, but know what you’re doing. Check your work,” Towery said.

Admission to the festival was $2 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to TCC scholarships for students.

Those interested in joining the Film Club or learning more about it can contact Floyd at molly.floyd@tccd.edu.