Two Hope College undergraduates were part of a team of eight students that produced a film being screened during the Oct. 23-25 Damah Film Festival in Seattle, Wash.
The film, "The Burning," was prepared during a May Term course offered through the Academy film school of Compass Arts of Grand Rapids. The participating Hope students were senior Deanna DiFilippo of Flushing and junior Julia M. King of Ann Arbor.
"The Burning," which runs approximately 10 minutes and was filmed in the Zeeland area, features an underlying theme of grace. In the film, an unemployed man faces a variety of obstacles in seeking a public restroom, including from a woman who cuts in front of him. When the woman later has car trouble, the man helps her rather than hold a grudge. She turns out to be an employer, and subsequently offers him a job.
"We wanted to do something that had a Christian theme, but was subtle," said DiFilippo, who was the producer in addition to portraying the woman. "Out of his act of grace of helping her, he got that reward of getting a job."
The Damah Film Festival is designed to provide a voice for artists to describe the human experience dealing with spiritual themes. According to the festival organizers, "Damah" is an ancient Hebrew word that means "a metaphor that transforms." The festival is presenting some films, like "The Burning," for screening, and others in competition.
DiFilippo is a communication major and theatre minor. Her activities include volunteering with Hope College Upward Bound, coordinating a program for participating high school students interested in television production.
King is a communication major. She is currently spending a semester in Atlanta, Ga., working in film production.