UT Students Create Own Red Carpet

"The Shadow People" tells a thrilling story of a teenage girl tormented by demons who possessed her body after a brutal encounter with members of a cult. Bethany Ryder and her friends were thinking they were headed to a bonfire to meet their friends; however what they confront is much less than pleasant. After the incident, Bethany falls into a coma lasting for nine months and awakens to an extremely altered existence.

The movie is packed with excitement and special effects, which, along with the cinematography, send it into the Hollywood realm. Written and directed by Conrad Faraj, "The Shadow People" is a feature length, "Ambitious, scary and mischievous" thriller as he says.

The movie was screened at Westfield's Rave Motion Pictures Cinema May 12. The red carpet screening of "The Shadow People" was held in Columbus at the Studio 35 Cinema the following evening.

Faraj said, "It truly felt like a movie premiere, that's when you know it's worth it."

At the first screening, those involved with the production were set up at a table, separate from the cinema's ticket sellers, with a poster behind them displaying Conrad Studios and Stallion Studios. Here they sold movie merchandise, tickets and offered pictures.

As people were heading into the theatre, the ticket collector was keeping the tickets since there were no stubs on them. Faraj quickly found the manager and asked if the audience members could keep their tickets—he approved.

Faraj was a second year student at UT during the time he finished the movie. He worked on the project for two years with the help of many along the way. Faraj has also written and directed two short films, "The Artist" (2009) and "The Candyman Conspiracy" (2007). Faraj said his ultimate goal is to be a Hollywood director. Throughout his studies and production courses he was always itching to get his hands on the equipment and create.

Faraj said they spent a total of about $3,000 out of pocket to create the movie. This includes equipment, production, advertising, merchandise and exhibition. They bought their own HD Canon camera and a lens, and then went to work. None of the actors or any of those who worked on the movie were paid; they did their work for the love of the art and dedication to the project Faraj said.

The team shot over 60 hours of footage over the course of a year in Toledo and Cleveland areas. The footage was not only edited by members of Faraj's team, but was also sent to editors in Canada and California as well. A man Faraj knows from Marvel Studios also created some of the special effects. The first cut of the movie ran at 2 hours and 40 minutes, and was later trimmed down to a final 2 hours and 18 minutes.

Faraj stated that the most difficult part of the process was in post-production. Finding a consistent crew, and obtaining funding while handling schoolwork was extremely stressful for the crew. However, Faraj said he had a goal and there was nothing that would stop him from completing his movie.

Joanne Wurm played the lead role as Bethany Ryder. Wurm studied Theatre at the university and acted in the productions of Macbeth and The Lesson. Acting for the stage and for the camera are very different skills. Her training for the stage greatly helped her prepare for her work on camera.

Jerod Nawrocki served as producer and editor for the movie. He is going to be a third year at the university studying film. Nawrocki also helped set up the screenings in both Toledo and Columbus and is trying to find festivals to send the movie to. He said that he is gearing up for the next Faraj feature, as well as researching graduate programs in California.

Needless to say that Faraj and his team are heading to Hollywood. The students say they have the drive and ambition to take their ideas to the next level, then even further. It is inspiring to see students take their movie to the local cinema, then surrounding cinemas for screenings and premieres.

Faraj says the film is not meant to exhibit any opinion of religion of politics, it is meant for purely entertainment purposes. He said he aims to create features that enable people to have a good time at the movies, a fun cinematic experience. Faraj plans on taking "The Shadow People" to film festivals across the country and is also already planning his next feature film, "The Gatherings." He says the film is, "'The Sixth Sense' meets ‘The Twilight Zone'."

To other aspiring filmmakers Faraj says, "Always stick to your idea, even when others question it, even when you're down on inspiration. Never give up. It will always pay off in the end."