Emperium Studios is excited to announce that its short film "What Happened to the Bodies?" has been selected to be part of the upcoming Hilliard Short Film Festival. The event takes place at the Hilliard Civic and Cultural Art Center, now in its 2nd year, celebrates the art of short filmmaking by local talents. The festival is led by Lewis Gordon, vice president of the Mid Ohio Film Association (MOFA),who's goal is to provide a platform for filmmakers of all ages to showcase their creativity.
Featuring DJ Campbell, a remarkable 10-year-old, in the lead role, "What Happened to the Bodies" follows a gripping storyline where DJ's character faces intense questioning from a psychiatric doctor regarding missing bodies. The film promises to captivate audiences with its intriguing plot and stellar performances."We are delighted to have our film included in the Hilliard Short Film Festival" said Dom Campbell, CEO of Emperium Studios "It is an honor to be part of an event that celebrates the art of storytelling and supports local filmmakers. We look forward to sharing our film with the diverse audience at the festival." The Hilliard Short Film Festival offers a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their talent and creativity through a range of captivating short films. Divisions include categories for both adult and student filmmakers, fostering a supportive environment for aspiring artists.
Our screening will take place at 9pm on Saturday June 1, 2024 at the Hilliard Civic and Cultural Art Center, 5235 Center Street Hilliard, OH 43026.
In October 2023, Dom Campbell made a pivotal decision regarding his film projects. Instead of embarking on a grand production journey involving significant funding and a large crew for a feature film, he chose to embrace simplicity and fun reminiscent of his early days in filmmaking. Campbell expressed that while feature films offer excitement, they also come with layers of complexity in their production processes.
Assuming multiple crew roles himself, Campbell entrusted the responsibilities of lights and sound to his trusted allies, Patrick English and Caleb Faizi. The short film project spanned two production days, with filming locations including Emperium's downtown office and the Grandview area in Columbus, Ohio. The ambitious goal was to complete the film in time for Halloween as a holiday special, leading to a tight timeline, exacerbated by the need to work around the availability of talents.
Despite facing unexpected challenges like rain on the first day of filming, which coincided with capturing pivotal scenes such as the movie's conclusion featuring Dj's character, Hakeem Jr walking to the car with his parents, and the vibrant park scene with all the kids, the team persevered. The rain, surprisingly, added a unique production value to the project, turning adversity into an opportunity.
Throughout the filming process, the collaboration between Dom and Caleb proved to be formidable. The children involved in the project enjoyed the experience, immersing themselves in their roles and letting their imaginations run wild. Dom expressed gratitude towards everyone involved in the project, highlighting the joy of witnessing his son, DJ, blossom as an actor and form new connections with fellow talent during this special journey.
Don't miss the opportunity to show your support for "What Happened To The Bodies?" and the array of other captivating projects being presented. If you're in the Central Ohio area, the event officially kicks off at 6pm, featuring student shorts and animations. This is a perfect outing for families and enthusiasts alike to enjoy a night of cinematic magic.
Tickets are on sale for $5 and available here: LINK
For additional information, visit the Hilliard Arts Council.
FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM Student/Teen – 6 p.m.
First Date: A Study (Aidan Sparks)
Gas Station Run (Broderick James Farver)
Bee Bubbly commercial (Megan Biddle)
Fake Images PSA (Sky Spiriti)
Gonna be Mine music video (J.I. Wiradarya)
Smoking Costs More PSA (Gianna McCants)
Surefire Horsemanship commercial (Sky Spiriti)
Fake Friends PSA (J.I. Wiradarya)
Closing Shift (Aidan Sparks)
Blake and Nelly (Drew Hammons)
Guiding Light (India Mitchell)
Directions (T.J. Cooley)
Misty Dream music video (Megan Biddle)
Ollie and Paige (Aidan Sparks)
Animation – 8 p.m.
Bear’s Ears (Mark Franz)
Knight of the Brook (Savannah C. Davis)
Transmissions (Richard Katterjohn)
Realm of Creation (Nic White)
Demon’s Day Out (Eleanor Hauck)
Pride In Our Steps (Johnathan Riles)
Wingblight (B.J. Halsall)
+18 – 9 p.m.
The Day That Never Comes (Tyler Ward)
What Happened To The Bodies? (Dom Campbell)
Picture Lock (Gaines Strouse)
Whose House Is It? (Gabriel Kirk)
One (J.W. Cox)
What Ended It All (Nathan Weidner)
This Present Situation (Alex Caperton)
Jinxed (Matthew Jenkins, Willem Jameson)
The Parallels of Loneliness (Doug Strong)
Slumber Party (B.J. Halsall)
The Medium (Matt Sams)
Dream Farm (Bryce Mackie)