UI students' films picked by MTV

By Brian Morelli / IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN / October 28, 2005

Filmmaking duo and University of Iowa juniors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have advanced to the semifinal round in a nationwide MTV film contest with two movie trailers.

The music television network announced that "Her Summer" and "University Heights" were two of 10 trailers to reach the semifinals in mtvU's Best Film on Campus: Trailer Challenge Competition.

The 21-year-old Bettendorf natives have collaborated on films as writers, directors and producers since seventh grade. Creating 13 short films and four feature films together, Beck and Woods have won or placed movies in several competitions, including "Shades," which finished in the top three in last year's inaugural mtvU contest.

"There's tough (competition) up there. There are some guys in California with a much bigger budget," said Beck, whose budget was less than $300. "But we are pretty confident in how ours stack up. We try to tell a story with the trailer; some of the others were a little vague."

Woods also liked their chances against the other films.

"We offer something different," he said. "'University Heights' offers an ensemble cast. It is a character piece. 'Her Summer' is a horror-suspense film."

The winner will receive a film development deal with MTV studios.

"We are excited. We really hope to get a film deal with MTV. It would be a way for two kids from Iowa to break into the film industry, since it's so tough," Woods said.

Five trailers will advance to the finals, and the winner will be announced Dec. 12. Celebrity judges, including John Singleton, also will help with the selection.

"These are two fantastic young filmmakers with a bright future. How could I not want to see these films?" Ross Martin, vice president of programming for mtvU, said Thursday from his office in New York.

"I wish I could have been there on the set and seen them in action," he said.

Martin said they are looking to develop college student filmmakers across the country.

"This competition is an opportunity to showcase some of the edgier, new ideas coming from college students," Martin said.

Tom Wheeler is the manager of the Iowa Film Office, which facilitates filmmaking in Iowa. Wheeler has worked with Beck and Woods in broadening their actor base, finding locations and creating a business plan.

"Their filmmaking abilities are readily visible to any viewer, and they are steadily increasing their skills from project to project. They write compelling stories," Wheeler said.