SCAD Wins 2020 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Competition

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to announce a team of SCAD students from its School of Entertainment Arts has won the grand prize in the 2020 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program, a student filmmaking competition. SCAD students also won the competition in 2019.

The film, “Let Loose,” was created by writer/director Elina Itugot (B.F.A., film and television, Houston, TX) and her co-director/animation supervisor Henry Zhinin (B.F.A., film and television, Poughkeepsie, NY). Zhinin and Itugot will receive a Battle-Tested RED DRAGON X camera package, ZEISS Milvus Superspeed lens kit and an additional $15,000 in prize money to launch their careers. “Let Loose” is available to view at CocaColaRefreshingFilms.com.

“The idea for the film came from my personal struggles of letting myself relax and let loose,” said Itugot. “Sharing my story has given me a voice. I loved collaborating with this amazing team of fellow SCAD students. I learned so much from them and about myself as a filmmaker. It was an overwhelming and magical experience.”

“Working on this film and winning the competition is a dream come true,” said Zhinin. “It makes me feel like I’m part of something great. The number of students who worked on this project and believed in this project was amazing.”  

A crew of nearly 100 SCAD students worked on “Let Loose”, which was the only film entered in the competition to feature both live-action filmmaking and animation. Ian Arnoldy (B.F.A., immersive reality, Melbourne Beach, FL), Olivia Schneider (B.F.A., film and television, Gainesville, FL), and Sharlene Richards (B.F.A., film and television, Syracuse, NY) led the production team for the 35-second film which was shot at a cinema in Gainesville, Florida and on a student-built set at SCAD Savannah Film Studios.  (Note:  A complete list of students is located at the end of the release.)

“SCAD provides us the incredible opportunity to work with fellow students who are specialized in their field,” said Schneider. “We worked with an entire visual effects team, animators, sound designers, costume designers, and a furniture design student was the production designer for the film. Students from all different concentrations came together to make the perfect film.”

Richards said, “At SCAD we are used to that kind of collaboration. That’s one of SCAD’s greatest strengths. The students we worked with are at the top of their craft and we all learn the valuable interdisciplinary skills that will help us succeed in our future careers.”

Richards was hired by Coca-Cola Refreshing Films to manage the 2020 Filmmaker Yearbook, which allows past participants to provide career updates and helps foster filmmaker connections.

Consistently ranked on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of top film and TV programs in the nation, SCAD’s School of Entertainment Arts is the preeminent program in the country for film and television as illustrated by winning the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program grand prize two years in a row. SCAD’s degree program in film and television gives students a distinct advantage before they graduate through project collaborations across disciplines that mirror how major film and TV productions work.

Having completed its twenty-third year, the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program provides opportunities for student filmmakers from partner university film schools to showcase their talent and gain real-world experience.  After teams from 38 schools submitted scripts for a 35-second film to connect viewers to the movie-going experience, finalists from five universities (SCAD, SVA, Columbia College Chicago, Ithaca College, and Biola University) were selected by the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program to produce their films.   A panel of film industry judges reviewed the films based on set criteria, selecting “Let Loose” as the grand prize winning film.  Notably, the SCAD team was unique in that each department was led by students only.

SCAD’s School of Entertainment Arts

SCAD offers one million square feet dedicated to the production of film, television and all other forms of entertainment, offering leading-edge technology and studio resources for SCAD students. Its facilities include the 60,000-square-foot SCAD Digital Media Center in the heart of Midtown Atlanta and Savannah Film Studios, a custom-designed space with all the amenities to host industry-level productions. SCAD’s impressive roster of film and television faculty includes D.W. Moffett, Quinlan Orear, Brett Wagner and more.

SCAD is also home to the world’s only professionally-run casting office at the university level. Focusing on acting for the camera and audition techniques, the SCADCasting Office has placed more than 500 students into roles for numerous films and television shows including NBC’s “Council of Dads,” “The Glorias,” directed by Julie Taymor, starring Julianne Moore, “The Underground Railroad,” directed by Barry Jenkins for Amazon, Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp,” and “Gemini Man,” directed by Ang Lee and starring Will Smith.

Additionally, SCAD is the only university to shoot student-produced television shows live before a studio audience, and is the only university shooting multi-camera productions, including “G.R.I.T.S.” and SCAD’s original sitcom “The Buzz,” which won the College Emmy ® award for Best Series.

SCAD offers signature events like SCAD Savannah Film Festival and SCAD aTVfest, which uniquely provide students with direct, unprecedented access to performers, producers, and industry experts as well as screenings, exclusive looks, and program premières. As the largest university-run film festival in the country, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival is an annual tribute to excellence in film that has screened over 100 Academy Award-nominated films and honored more than 75 legendary actors, directors, producers, writers and more, for more than 20 years. Now in its  eighth year, SCAD aTVfest is a celebration of the best in the television industry, creating interactions between students and visiting professionals through masterclasses, in conversations, and keynote speeches. The brightest stars in TV come to Atlanta to spend their time visiting with students, sharing insights, and reviewing portfolios.

About SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in more than 40 majors across its locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Lacoste, France; and online via SCAD eLearning. SCAD enrolls more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications and collaborative projects with corporate partners.

In 2019, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD as the No. 1 university in the U.S. and in the top two universities in the Americas and Europe. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate.

SCAD Cast and Crew from “Let Loose”

Above the Line
Director – Elina Itugot – film and television – Houston, TX 
Director – Henry Zhinin – film and television – Poughkeepsie, NY
Producer – Ian Arnoldy – immersive reality –  Melbourne Beach, FL
Producer – Sharlene Richards – film and television -Syracuse, NY
Associate Producer – Olivia Schneider – film and television – Gainesville, FL

Production Crew
1st Assistant Director – Ryan Moore – film and television – Cheswick, PA
Production Coordinator – Christian Fink-Irizarry – film and television – North East, PA
Production Coordinator – Erika Roller – film and television – Spring, TX
2nd 2nd Assistant Director – Nicholas Grozier – film and television – Hickory, NC
Script Supervisor – Sabia Faden – film and television – Minatoku, Tokyo, Japan
Key Production Assistant – Ellen Olis – film and television – Troy, MI
Production Assistant – Julia Moran – film and television – Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Production Assistant – Kyle Rhine – film and television – Warren, OH
Production Assistant – Christian Phillips – film and television – Wellington, FL
Production Assistant – Sarah Layton – film and television – Bridgedale, DE

Behind the Scenes (BTS) Crew
Social Media Producer – Jordan Johnson – film and television – Gilbert, SC
Social Media Manager – Payton Heyman – social strategy & management – Newport News, VA
Social Media Copywriter – Alex Wilson – advertising and branding – Simpsonville, SC
BTS Location Sound – Conor Ireland – sound design – Nashville, TN 
BTS Gaffer – Naima Washington – film and television -Atlanta, GA
BTS Gaffer – Maddie Mastras – film and television – Rockaway, NJ
BTS Still Photographer – Kendra Frankle – photography – West Linn, OR
BTS Videographer – Evan Whipple – film and television – Davison, MI
BTS Supervising Editor – Dylan Devries – film and television – Grand Rapids, MI
BTS Colorist – Sam DeRouen – film and television – Austin, TX
Creative/Copywriter – Alberto Cuadra – advertising and branding – Managua, Nicaragua
Creative/Art Director – Vy Phan – advertising and branding – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Creative/Copywriter – Cooper Bowman – advertising and branding – Charlottesville, VA

Camera Crew
Director of Photography – George Rowson – film and television – Pooler, GA
Camera Operator – Lyle Michos – film and television – Sebastian, FL
Camera Operator – Dallas Jenkins – film and television – Louisville, KY
1st Assistant Camera – Colin Shostak – film and television – Princeton, NJ
2nd Assistant Camera – Ned Cooper – film and television – Richmond, VA
Movi Technician – Lyle Michos – film and television – Sebastian, FL
Camera Utility-  Kristian Robateau – film and television – Dorado, Puerto Rico
Digital Imaging Technician – Albert Dantzer –  film and television – Granville, OH
Data Loader –  Alex Thomas – film and television – Washington, DC

Lighting Crew
Key Grip – Parker Crumbly  – film and television – Dothan, AL
Dolly Grip – Ethan Hacker – film and television – Manchester Center, VT
Best Boy Grip – Dave Condon – film and television – Savannah, GA
Best Boy Grip – Gray Macdonald – film and television – Lincoln, MA
Grip – Eric Hermetz – sound design – Douglasville, GA

Art Crew
Production Designer – Krista Jarrell – furniture design – Camden Wyoming, DE
Production Designer – Brooke Vanderaa – production design – Crown Point, IN
Art Director – Vy Phan – advertising and branding – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Set Decorator – Archie Tyagi –  interior design – Delhi, India
Set Dresser – Scarlett Chavez – architecture – San Gabriel, CA
Set Dresser/Buyer – Sierra Lambdin –  production design – Sylvania, GA
Asst. Production Designer/Stylist – Brittney Sullivan-Deines – production design – Enumclaw, WA
Assistant Prop Master – Bao Nguyen – film and television – Lawrenceville, GA
Graphic Designer – Stephanie D’Arienzo – graphic design – Fort Worth, TX
Art PA – Rachel Schulz – production design – Marion, IA
Art PA – Chelsea Adams – sound design – New City, NY
Construction Crew – Lauren Prestenbach – visual effects – Falls Church, VA

Costume & Makeup Crew
Costume Designer – Bao Nguyen – film and television – Lawrenceville, GA
Costume Designer Assistant – Gracen Carter – production design – Kennesaw, GA
Hair and Make-Up Director – Alexis Broome – film and television – Winnsboro, SC
Hair Stylist – Idara Sunday – business of beauty and fragrance – Jonesboro, GA
Hair and Make-Up Assistant – Marie Balandi – business of beauty and fragrance – Portland, OR
Hair and Make-Up Assistant – Eileen Kohli – production design – Burlingame, CA

VFX  Crew
Pre Viz Animator – Olivia Mercurio – animation – Ithaca, NY
Visual Effects Producer – Louis Clark – visual effects – Florence, AL
Visual Effects Supervisor – Chris Wood – visual effects – Lexington, SC
Line Producer & Compositer – Lauren Prestenbach – visual effects – Falls Church, VA
FX Artist and Compositer – Noah Catan – visual effects – Quezon City, Philippines
FX Artist – Ian Harvey – visual effects – Austin, TX
FX Artist – Jude Kuhn – visual effects – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Compositer – Ben Morse – visual effects – Maitland, FL
Lighting and Shading – Kayla Whitehead – visual effects – Suffolk, VA
Lighting and Shading – Morgan Woodward – visual effects – Yukon, OK
Texture Artist – Nia Coffer – visual effects – Richmond, CA

Sound Crew
Post Sound Supervisor/Location Sound – Jared Sclar- sound design – Brooklyn, NY
Location Sound – Kush Tandon – sound design – Aworth, GA
Boom Op/Post Sound Mixer – Rachel Litchfeild – sound design – Ruffin, SC
Sound Effects Editor – Alex Wang – sound design – Gwacheon Si, South Korea
Composer – Tyler Grow – sound design – Boynton Beach, FL

Post Production
Post Supervisor/Co-Editor – Olivia Schneider – film and television – Gainesville, FL
Co-Editor – Sarah Ropple – film and television – Derry, NH

Visual Development Team
Concept Artist – Kate Gottfredson – illustration – Stansbury Park, UT
Concept Artist – Joshua DeCasseres – animation – Fredericksburg, VA
Concept Artist – Amanda Ramirez – animation – Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Concept Artist – Malia Carroll – animation – Governor’s Harbour, EL, Bahamas
Concept Artist – Ashley Billings – illustration – Blountsville, AL
Storyboard Artist/Environment Concept Artist – Allie Phiilips – animation – Germantown, TN

Actors
ALMA – Tajinae Turner – performing arts – Aurora, CO
BOBBI – Sophie Pauly – performing arts – Sterling, VA
CONCESSIONS EMPLOYEE – Terrence Williams – performing arts – Gainesville, FL