NewEnglandFilm.com

Two Fitchburg State College graduates have decided to bring something back to their school and the New England community. J.C. Bouvier and Keith Gerrard, founders of Revolutionary Images, a Fitchburg-based post-production and advertising firm, recently launched the Free Film Festival Fitchburg (F4), to be held on the Fitchburg State College (FSC) campus on March 7 -9, 2002.

Fitchburg State offers sophisticated film equipment to students majoring in its most popular course of study. Bouvier, Creative Director/Producer at Revolutionary Images and a member of the Sundance Film Festival staff, said that FSC has had interns and graduates working in several high profile film companies, including James Cameron’s effects house, Digital Domain, and Robert Salvatore’s work on the Star Wars novels. One of Bouvier’s goals is to raise awareness about the program during F4.

Gerrard, who has also worked for Sundance, said, "The F4 is a labor of love, and we wanted to give back to our alma mater." Filmmakers are not charged submission fees; FSC is donating the venue and the projection.

F4’s opening night will be held in the school’s McKay Auditorium on March 7 at 6 pm, with director John Landis screening and discussing his 1983 film, "The Three Amigos." A question-and-answer session will follow. Landis will also discuss his new book, "The Best Film Writing of 2001."

The evening will also see the presentation of the first F4 awards, known as the "Fitchies." F4 selected 35 films from 80 submissions received from around the world. Works include documentaries, shorts, and features. Prizes include a $10,000 iXS editing system from Media 100, Inc., and several software packages including Cleaner 5, a compression and conversion utility worth $599.00. Prizes will be awarded by FSC faculty, Bouvier, and members of the press.