While discussing the integral role networking has in the film industry—a point he would continue to emphasize throughout the rest of his interview with Jackalope Magazine—Film School Chair Chris Eyre readied his computer to unveil his latest directing gig: a drunk driving PSA for the Wyoming Board of Transportation spearheaded by Wyoming First Lady Carol Mead. Eyre had just returned to Santa Fe from the Sundance Film Festival, where he served as both a Film School liaison to the festival as well as an alumnus, having received the Audience Award and Filmmakers Trophy Award in 1998 for his film Smoke Signals. “It’s important to maintain the network and then bring it back to the Film School,” Eyre explained, going on to mention a casual run-in he’d had with Peter Farrelly, an old friend. On Jan. 17, Eyre’s crew, consisting of (many) Film School students, shot the 30-second Drunk Driving PSA in a single day. “We had a budget here so we paid everyone for their time.” Eyre chuckled, motioning to his computer screen displaying his portfolio of work. “That’s why we’re all here.” Eyre played two other PSAs he had done in 2008 for the state of New Mexico. Similar to his recent work, the NM spots carried a vignetted style that plays like a 30-second feature film. ‘The way that I shoot, you know, I’m always making a movie out of something,” he said. The PSA hosted various paid positions for faculty, students, local acting talent and area film workers, including 13 students, one Film School alumnus and four faculty contributors. Film School Chair Paula Amanda served as producer, alum Seth Fuller was a camera operator and post-production efforts were handled by sophomore film student and Redford Scholar Alec Brown, with color-correcting and sound-mixing by Mark Sewards and Brad Wolfley—both full-time faculty members. “The grip department definitely knew their stuff,” said senior film student Tyler Sherek, who served as a grip/electric production assistant on the shoot, “the stress level was near non-existent.” “I use all different crews…” Eyre said when asked about his process in formulating a team. “There’s a lot of talented people out there.” He expanded by saying he seeks out team members that are more skilled than he. “It’s not always about your tight network of friends, you know, it’s about who makes the best product.” Eyre spoke about his work with reknowned cinematographers Claudio Miranda (Life of Pi), Elliot Davis (Twilight) and most recently Santa Fe resident Dyanna Taylor (North Country) with whom he collaborated on with this particular PSA.  “I have worked with Chris on a project in LA in the past,” said Taylor of her past experiences with Eyre. “Because of his excellent reputation and the various Native American film projects I’ve DPd, our paths have crossed at various times.” Taylor began her career in San Francisco roughly 30 years ago and has since worked on projects across the world, including Africa, Europe and New York City, creating films for ABC, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. She believes that student jobs like these are essential to advancing in the film industry and shed some tips for budding filmmakers.  “Working professionals remember you if you were attentive, worked well and easily and demonstrated your intentions,” explained Taylor, noting her admiration for the students participation. “The students were attentive and fun to have there. My only regret was that I couldn’t spend more time with...

We went around campus and asked some students and faculty what they were looking forward to for the Holidays. Jackalope Magazine: What do you look forward to for the Holidays? Derek Morales: I’ll be heading back home to Connecticut to be with the family. I’ll be working some seasonal part time for some money. I might even work on some of designs over the break. Jehad N Khateeb: I won’t be doing anything special. I will go to San Francisco with Sandra [Schoenstein] maybe in January.  I am Muslim so I don’t celebrate Christmas. Sandra Schoenstein: I’m very happy that this is my first Christmas away from family. I am not very fond of Christmas so it’s nice to finally spend it alone. I’ll go to San Francisco with Jehad [N Khateeb] too which will be nice. They call me the Grinch at home. Kevin J Smith: I will spend the holidays with my dogs, in my house, alone. I’ll probably play some video games, maybe make some food for myself, but yeah, just gonna be home. Federico Ochoa: I will go see my family in Mexico and hopefully have a nice Christmas with them all. Cristian Marquez: I’ll be spending my holidays with my family to eat and celebrate Christmas with my brothers and sisters. It will be a great break and I am looking forward to Daniela LaRrea: I will be going to Cabo to see my family, eat some good food and relax before next semester of classes. Charlie Miu: I missed Thanksgiving dinner with my family so I look forward to these holidays to have our own remix of the two. Ambrose Taylor: I’ll be heading home to see family and friends. I’m ready to see everyone at home and get some much needed rest from this...