'Blind Date' People's Choice Award at Fault-Line Film Festival Gala

As the opening credits for "Blind Date" began, the crowd applauded and cheered in anticipation of the Best Comedy film. Amanda Sachtleben, a sophomore theatre and film major created this film without the intention of winning an award, she simply wanted to begin her film career.

"Blind Date" is a short film about a girl waiting to meet her fantasy man at an Italian restaurant. As she's waiting she begins imagining what her date will be like, quickly flickering between many sweet, awkward and just downright horrible scenarios. After scaring herself into a near frenzy the film wraps up with a handsome guy walking into the restaurant and the main character almost melting with relief.

Sachtleben took home the People's Choice Award in addition to her Best Comedy award, which she received at the award ceremony on Nov. 14. Sachtleben was surprised and grateful for all the support.

The Fault-Line Film Festival is an opportunity for students to submit indepentdent, student made films for judging and possibly winning awards and monetary prizes.

Students gathered on Nov. 16 in Rose Theatre to see a screening of a selection of movies as well as cast their vote for the People's Choice Award.

"This [directing] was completely new. It was a huge learning experience, and I didn't want any awards going into it. I didn't think about the money. I just did it because I wanted to get my first film done, and I wanted to get it out there," Sachtleben said.

Sachtleben began filming in September and was thankful for the early start after discovering her film had no audio.

Fred Jones, associate professor in the Department of Mass Media, was the master of ceremonies at the Fault-Line Film Festival Gala Nov. 14. Photo by Nathan Hamilton

"Whenever I found out about the no audio I was like, 'OK, this is a setback, let's go back and do this again,'" Sachtleben said.

The other seven category winners were announced on Nov. 14 in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall. Nine judges from the departments of mass media, theatre and dance, entrepreneurial center, art and industrial technology chose films based on technical ability, entertainment and if it captures the audience's attention.

Associate professor of mass media Fred Jones was the master of ceremonies for the event.

"It's fantastic," Jones said. "The students are so much fun and so talented, and the level of filmmaking here is just extraordinary."

Jones said students who participate in the festival are enthusiastic and creative and that what they can do never ceases to amaze him.

The awards were categorized to include three honorable mention awards, a best in drama, comedy, mystery/suspense, animation, a judge's award and a best of festival award.

The honorable mentions were awarded to Bryan Birks for his work "Ect," Gary P. Schmidt Jr. and Adam Miller for "Misericordia" and Hailan Wang for "The Distance of the Heart."

Hunter Hempen and Robert Foote won the Best Drama award for their short film "Calignosity," Sachtleben won Best Comedy for "Blind Date," Paul Stokes won Best Mystery/Suspense for "Crossroads" and Jenny Martinez received Best Animation for "I'm Awake."

Robert Spurlock received the judge's award for "The Wight King," and Josh Friedrich received the Best of Festival award for his film "Madison."

Each winner received a crystal star trophy embossed with their individual award and title of the competition as well as a monetary prize.

"It's bittersweet," said Hempen, a senior at Southeast. "I am going to miss the festival, but then again I won't be up so late working on stuff like this."

Jones said that this festival is open to any student of any major, and they can get started on a film right now for next year's festival.