Every Film Is A Startup

Everyone has a story to tell.

Sponsored by TruBlu Streaming Service and the Burton D. Morgan foundation, lead by the Weston Ideation Lab and the School of Film and Media Arts, Every Film is a Startup provides an opportunity for business students to get real world experience working on the business side of film while allowing film student to gain a better understanding of the business side of their artistic endeavors.

In this year-long program, each team created a three to five minute proof of concept video and compete for cash prizes and scholarships. Students learned about internship opportunities in the film industry; met dedicated mentors in the fields of film, entrepreneurship and more; enhanced their personal "reel" or project portfolio and met students and alumni transforming their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

The 2022-2023 Seasion Premiere was:

Friday, May 12, 2023

Join us in congratulating the three winning teams:

1st Place - Hope Fills Closets

Hope Fills Closets follows two gender non-conforming individuals, Dale and G, as they explain their relationship with their clothing both in the past and present, and get ready to buy new clothes for some exciting events coming up in their future. We learn about G's experiences as an AFAB drag performer and Dale's struggles as a trans-masc leaning agender individual who doesn't mind dressing femininely. With the help of Margie's Closet, a thrift store run by the non-profit organization Margie's Hope, made specifically for trans and gender non-conforming individuals, they are able to find outfits to wear to these events and feel more confident and comfortable in their clothes.

• Axel McAvinue - School of Film and Media Arts
• Jason Fraley - School of Film and Media Arts
• Olivia Swain - School of Film and Media Arts
• Max Torres - School of Film and Media Arts
• Mac Reske - Monte Ahuja College of Business

2nd Place - Unfiltered

Following a new up and coming luxury restaurant in Cleveland Ohio, entertainment prodigy, Kyler Smith, paves a new way of success by putting everything on the line to open the first of its kind, black-owned visual entertainment dining experience, through the help of social media.

• Josh Burton: School of Film & Media Arts
• Sedona Babcock: School of Film & Media Arts
• Katerina Zizis: School of Film & Media Arts
• Brandon Breznai: School of Film & Media Arts
• Owen Gervace: School of Film & Media Arts

3rd Place - Where People Come First

The downtown district and general public of small-town Fremont, Ohio on the edge of disappearing is transformed by local businesses who renovate many of its abandoned buildings and bring a sense of community to the town.

• Shayla Steinberger: School of Film & Media Arts
• Anna Morrissey: School of Film & Media Arts
• Noah Bailey: School of Film & Media Arts
• Molly Bregar: Monte Ahuja College of Business

View the event photos online here.

View the Fall 2021 overview below: