Freshman group writes, produces film

If there is a checklist for making the most of the first semester of college, Rachelle Wilson has certainly completed hers.\nThe "Art of Acting" Freshman Interest Group, a community within the Residential Programs and Services system, decided in September to go above and beyond for their final project relating to the freshman experience. Instead of making a scrapbook or writing a short story reflecting on the previous few months, this FIG decided to make a movie. Wilson, the film's writer, director, cinematographer and assistant editor, was the creator of the student production. The film is also her directorial debut. \n"I really wanted to scrape the surface of what freshman life can be like," she said. \n"Art of Acting" FIG leader Heather Winter said the FIG delves much deeper into what freshman year can be like.\n"Every student should see this film before attending college. It addresses important issues that are otherwise swept under the rug," she said.\nThe film, titled "Free Fall: How Far Will They Go to Discover Who They Are?", follows a female student through her first year in college and allows the audience to experience her transformation from an overachieving high school senior into a more relaxed college student. Meanwhile, her friends cope with issues regarding promiscuous sex, recreational drug use and heavy drinking.\nSophomore Jason Alweiss was the primary editor of the film. He spent more than 50 hours of his time editing, but the hours were far from anguishing.\n"It was well worth it, and the audience will love it," Alweiss said.\nNot only did the film cause the audience to face potential realities of "the freshman experience," but it forced the actors to play roles outside their elements.\n"I don't use substances, (but) it was interesting to experience life with a different point of view," said freshman Sarah Kiperman, who played Toagie the stoner in "Free Fall." \nThe private screening took place Tuesday in the Whittenburger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union. The viewing was invite-only because of explicit language and graphic hard-hitting issues.\n"The experience really brought us closer together as a group," Wilson said. "It definitely taught us patience and perseverance"