Francisco Casanova, first assistant director, looks over the script for the School of Cinematic Arts film “Sun King” as director Marcus Aubin (center) discusses scenes with actor Norman Garcy Yap. (Image courtesy of Hugo Wang)“Sun King,” the first film produced by the new School of Cinematic Arts Indie Studio, will premiere at the Beloit International Film Festival later this month. Filmmaker and DePaul faculty member James Choi is the executive producer on the film, along with a faculty committee that includes JoAnne Zielinski, Gary Novak, and Michael Flores. Produced by recent graduates Claire Wiles and Connor Kovak, the film was entirely crewed by undergraduate film and television students.
The SCA Indie Studio helps students produce micro-budget feature films while enrolled in a class. Each year, a group of 8-10 students is selected to produce a feature over the course of three quarters. The goal is to teach students how to produce and deliver a feature film with very little money and a minimal crew, translating the skills they have learned in class to real life experience.
“It’s a great opportunity to get people out of their comfort zones, think outside the box, and inspire them about the true possibilities of filmmaking in our digital age,” says Choi, who teaches the class.
“Sun King,” written by undergraduate student Tiffany Brinkman, follows an eccentric Chinese man who embarks on an epic journey to marry his cousin after convincing himself that he is the reincarnated soul of King Louis XIV. Director Marcus Aubin knew he wanted to make the film as soon as he read the script.
“Through humor and an absurd premise, it provided a voice to those who might not fit into social or cultural norms and are misunderstood,” Aubin says. ”As a Mexican-American filmmaker, I’ve seen firsthand the lack of representation people of color have experienced in cinema, especially the Asian community. I hope ‘Sun King’ can play a small role in shifting perspective towards more inclusive cinematic stories.”