Year: Class of 2016
Major: Cinema & Photography, Cinema Production concentration
Her Campus Ithaca College: As Director of Drink of Choice, what exactly is your role?
Laura Bretscher: Aside from directing the actors and giving them notes on how the scene should be, a large part of my role as director is to oversee the other positions on set. I’m always double checking with our camera, lighting, and production design to make sure we’re all on the same page on what look we’re going for. Even though the director ultimately makes the final call for what the film is going to look like, I strive to collaborate ideas with everyone on set because regardless of class, major, or previous experience, I think everyone has something to bring to the creative process.
HCIC: Could you briefly summarize/explain the piece
LB: The film, Drink of Choice, follows a ten-year-old boy named Noah. He is brought to a bar by his older brother Ben and his college friend Jack, where the two of them realize that having a little kid around makes a great ploy for picking up girls at the bar.
HCIC: What is your favorite part about being on set?
LB: My favorite part about being on set is just being around the people. The majority of people on my set are gery close friends of mine, and people whom I have worked with before. Being on set together, forms a special bond with people. Most of my close friends are people who I have worked with on different sets.
HCIC: Do you have any advice for freshman/underclassman Cinema and Photography students?
LB: My advice is to get involved with as many projects as possible. ACP films and senior thesis are always looking for production assisants to help out on set. Regardless of previous experience, it’s a great way to get involved and see the different components of film sets. It’s also a great way to network. If you do a good job on set, people will take notice, regardless of your position. People from that sert will ask you to be apart of their own set, and it becomes this whole web of connections. Definitely don’t be afraid to reach out to film sets and upperclassmen, because more times than not, they need help on set just as much as you do.