Independent Student Media

by Christian Cook

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"Luke Freeborn and I would look everywhere for the right set dressing and props. One night we snuck up to the greens department on the lot. We "borrowed" several plants that we needed for our set. We did take them all back. I learned that you just need to be creative in solving the problems that come up in filmmaking, and there are always problems to be solved."

Steve Christensen - Filmmaker

Anything that wasn't nailed down on the backlot seemed to find its way into our art department's hands and onto the "Simplicity" set.

From start to finish the success of the "Simplicity" workshop hung on the numerous professional filmmakers that could spend a great deal of time one on one with the teachers and students. From this point forward the ISM workshops would continue trying out new things to make the summer workshop not only a memorable experience but an exciting moment of discovery and learning that would change people's lives, a practice that continues in each of the ISM workshops to the current day.

The scores for "Simplicity" and "A Kiss Remembered," were composed by a talented musician named Steve Duke, who spent a single evening with a student/teacher orchestra prior to entering the studio where the soundtrack was recorded.

"That moment in the recording studio was one of my favorite with ISM so far." says Fletch. "To be able to sit back and watch the teachers working and playing their instruments right next to the one or two students they each brought. I suddenly realized that these teachers rarely, if ever, get to teach one on one with a student and here in the recording studio it was, right in front of us. The purpose of ISM was never more clear to me than at that moment when the line between teacher and student didn't exist, it was like musicians working through a piece of music together."

After the workshop was finished ISM spent the next few months in postproduction getting "Simplicity" ready for screening.

Upon reflection, Chet looks back at the making of "Simplicity" with the following thoughts that sum up the project very well: "I think the most enjoyable part of the whole workshop for me was to see the transformation of the teachers and students from being nervous bystanders to becoming incredibly effective professional crew members."

Chet and Fletch wrapped the principle photography on the "Simplicity" workshop in four days and went away feeling a great deal more had been accomplished than just the production of a short film.

Simplicity would go on to win several awards at various film festivals, including Best Picture and Best Editing. Chet and Fletch were honored when their little picture was later that year considered for an Academy Award.


	Corporate Sponsors DreamWorks Twentieth Century Fox Universal Studios Panavision Technicolor Guardian Pictures Hollywood Digital Pivitol Post Power-Up Starwagons Sande Alessi Casting LA Pine Grip Co Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc. C & H Production Services Lorion Systems Inc Budget Rentals Universal Properties Department Independent Studio Services “ Out of the Closet Thrift Stores” benefiting AIDS Healthcare Foundation Universal Wardrobe Department Soundelux L. A. East Los Angeles Recording Workshop Title House Magic Film & Video Works Todd AO Chance Productions Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
	Special Thanks To Keith Allen Matt Ball Karen Baker Dave Beanes Daniel Bernardo John Bickford Jim Brown Jeff Buchignani Denny Caira Michael Chapman Lee Clay Sid Cole Kim Cooper Bonnie Curtis Charlie Davis Mark DePres Bryn Dessent David Dreben Brent Elam Hilani Ellis Angie Ganem Charley Gilleran Rene Gonzales Karen Greshler-Lewer Michael Grillo Beverly Hadley Bob Heiber Per Hallberg Eric Handler Larry Harmell John Herzfeld Gloria Hinojosa Gerald Jones Jeff Klitsner Jim Kwiatkowski Michael Lantierri Duke Lim Liberato Martinez Jerry Molen Steve Molen Cory Myler Glen Neibaur Ed Neumeier Terry Opp Yoonsin Park Phil Raden Steve Ramirez David Ranes Jennifer Sanger Mark Skowronski Dave Stanley Pete Toby Darren Turbow