Last Tuesday night, the third and final event of the Radio, TV and Film program’s Tennessee Film Nights at the Atlantic Ale House concluded to the theme of “How To Survive the Winter.”
There were 10 films screened at the event, listed in order of screening: “Center City” by August Aguilar, “Buffalo Mountain” by David Gwaltney, “Religious Clown” by Jess Uhl, “Social Normality” by Autumn Gobble, “The Elevator Game” by Lauren Blackard and Zachary Wright, “Seeking Beauty” by Brittany Bales and Chelsea Wright, “The Big Question” by Sophia Quilliams, “The Newsroom” by David Floyd, “This is CC” by Elyse Batista and “I’ll be Home for Christmas” by Shannon Collins.
The films stayed true to the theme as they all showed the cold, windy elements or fully took place in the outdoors. Two of the filmmakers, Sophia Quilliams and August Aguilar, were there in attendance to watch the screenings and stayed after to answer questions from the audience.
“The challenges were mostly the city ambiance,” Aguilar said. “[There were] lots of traffic, pedestrians and unaccounted factors that were hard to film around, but besides that, basically going into a city blind was the most intimidating factor.”
Aguilar’s “Center City” is a black and white noir crime story with original jazz music to set the tone in a cold, breezy Philadelphia. Quilliams’ “The Big Question” was a very calm yet chaotic and confusing line of thought.
“The fact that this was my first official video/film project was difficult at times, but I am fortunate enough to have had some informal experience creating YouTube videos in high school,” Quilliams said. “Like many artists, the hardest part was just picking an idea and running with it.”
The filmmakers also gave advice like the ones before them to future filmmakers.
“Just do it, and try it out to find something you want to try and go for it,” Aguilar said. “Network as much as you can, and do good by people. It will come back to you.”
Quilliams said the subject of the film is essential.
“As an amateur filmmaker myself, I don’t know if I am qualified to give my advice, but I would say to just brainstorm and go with your gut,” Quilliams said. “Create art encompassing things you care about.”
The venue held a steady capacity of attendees over the course of the three night event and maintained the supportive and warm atmosphere.
“The Tennessee Film Nights are a great opportunity for people to show their work and connect with people,” Aguilar said. “There’s a really great and special atmosphere with filmmakers and creators alike, and showing work and [talking] to each other after goes a long way.”
“I am excited that the Johnson City arts community is reaching out to the public,” Quilliams said. “This is a smaller city in East Tennessee, and it is refreshing to know that we are growing.”
With the TN Film Nights coming to a close, the next big film event will be the inaugural Johnson City Film Festival on Nov. 8-9.
