Southeastern NEWS
                    Southeastern Louisiana University
                    Public Information Office
                    SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                    504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
          5    
   Date:  April 25, 2002
      Contact:      Rene Abadie     

(Editor: Photo accompanies story)

SOUTHEASTERN-PRODUCED FILM, 'WISH,' EARNS GOLD AWARD 
AT HOUSTON WORLDFEST

     HAMMOND - "Wish," a short video produced by Southeastern Louisiana University
dance coordinator Martie Fellom, has been awarded a Gold Award, the second-place award for
experimental dramatic films at the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival. 
     Receiving the award earlier this month were Fellom, associate professor in the
Department of Music and Dramatic Arts, and Alan Marsh of Hammond, a former instructor with
the Department of English and the Department of Teaching and Learning, who scripted the piece.
     Worldfest-Houston is one of the world's largest awards programs for independent films
and videos and is recognized as a prominent rival of the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival. The
event is credited with early recognition of such directors as Steven Spielberg ("Saving Private
Ryan," "Schindler's List"), Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and Ridley Scott
("Black Hawk Down," "Gladiator"). More than 4,000 films were entered in the festival with
approximately 100 entries in the experimental dramatic category.
     "Wish" is the story of a little girl's plans for her father's birthday. Shot in scenes tinted
with cobalt blue, black and white, and full color, the video uses no words, employing only music
and dance to convey its story. "Wish" premiered in the 2001 season of Fanfare, Southeastern's
fall celebration of the arts and sciences, as part of a multi-media performance that featured two
live dance pieces also choreographed by Fellom. 
     The video, which runs slightly more than nine minutes, featured Marsh playing the role
of the father; Erica Tricou, a six-year-old student at Southeastern Laboratory School; and
Tricou's mother, Becky Wilson of Hammond, in the role of the mother.
     "Wish" was shot in Marsh's Hammond home by Claude Levet, staff
photographer/videographer in Southeastern's Public Information Office, with video editing by
James Devin Broome, a former member of the public information staff. Music was provided by
Conor McGibboney with Brandon Cubas serving as sound recording engineer.
     "Worldfest was both informative and illuminating for both Alan and me," Fellom said.
"In addition to first class seminars and the opportunities to network with other professionals, we
were able to meet with an eclectic group of filmmakers who are passionate about their work and
supportive of other filmmakers as well."
     Fellom said she and Marsh are currently at work on another video project, which is
expected to premier in the 2002 Fanfare season. The production will be based on one of Marsh's
short stories entitled "Wild Kingdom," a humorous story featuring a junior high student who
employs the techniques of animals in the wild to avoid being called on in class. Fellom said that
project will be more complex than "Wish" because of the larger cast and the use of dialogue.
-SLU-