It was all “Lights, Camera, Action!” with Buzz Studios and the opening of their 2nd annual film showcase last Friday, Aug. 30. This school year will commemorate the club’s 24th anniversary on Tech’s campus. They opened with a beginning-of-year showcase of short films from past semesters, following the success and demand of their inaugural event from 2023.
Buzz Films is a club that provides any Yellow Jacket interested in filmmaking the space, resources and time to write, direct and film their own stories starring professional actors from around the local Atlanta area. It is a shared space for cinephiles, aspiring directors and all other creative minds to get together and exchange ideas, give support and celebrate movies.
Ethan Ollins, fourth-year CE, the current president of Buzz Films, spoke of the history, recent growth and work behind the scenes that brings this club and its movies to life.
“The club was founded back in Fall 2001 by just a couple of students who one day said, ‘You know what? I want to make a movie.’ Their very first film was a hype video starring Buzz for the 2001 UGA vs. GT game as a Terminator spoof. But they went on to create a community where like-minded individuals would come together and help each other make films,” Ollins said.
This simple vision of mutual support and connection through film has continued through the years to make it into the club it is today. Members have access to shared script writing sessions, fun workshops and the opportunity to experience any and all types of roles behind or in front of the camera.
“I don’t care if you’ve never heard of a movie before in your life, if you are interested in helping out on the set of a short film and eventually going on to create, write and direct your own film, we will give you all the resources and experiences and guidance that you need to do that. And I’m very proud to say that we’ve been able to do that for a lot of people at this school who, before they came to us, it had never even occurred to them that filmmaking was something they wanted to be a part of,” Ollins said.
As the club welcomes new members without a requirement of past experience or prior knowledge, it has attracted much attention from incoming students, including those who were simply curious about the movies the film club produces every year. Ollins realized a lack of accessibility, despite the demand, for viewing older productions and has since been working on restoring an archival site for the Georgia Tech community to enjoy.
“When we would recruit new members, the number one question was ‘Where can I see these films?’ And for a long time, we didn’t have a great answer to that question. What I realized is that all we ever do is make movies. We should just host a movie night for people. I thought that hosting a beginning-of-year showcase would be a great way to give these films a chance to be seen by people around the school,” Ollins said.
On the evening of the showcase, moviegoers were greeted by the ramp leading up to Atlantic Theater, “ushers” passing out bags of buttered popcorn and ticket slips for an after-movie raffle. The showing consisted of nine short films, all written, shot and directed by fellow students. The full program of the night can be viewed on films.buzzstudios.org, their archival site, along with all respective credits.
Ollins, the filmmakers and other officers of Buzz Films then hosted a Q&A session for any prospective members who were inspired by the movie night and had an interest in directing or shooting one of their own one day.
“A word that is commonly used to describe this club is an ‘outlet.” It really is just a place where people of all sorts of academic backgrounds and career interests share a similar artistic interest in just creating something fun that can be viewed and enjoyed,” Ollins said.
It can be difficult for students to find spaces on campus that nurture and celebrate the arts and creative activities, and it is not any easier for those organizations to thrive with limited club funding and resources from the Institute and SGA.
Ollins shared an anecdote about a reaction from an actor on a set last spring, who had recently graduated from a film school. For them, witnessing students from such different lives and career aspirations working together to make a movie simply “ for the love of the game” had been an incredibly meaningful experience to be a part of.
The growth and popularity of Buzz Films and clubs like it speak to not only the popular demand but also the necessity of such organizations on a tech-dominated campus. The heart behind these efforts comes from individual Yellow Jackets with passions, ambitions and stories to share with the world.
If any student is looking for the opportunity to bring their own stories to the screen or just wants to be more involved in creative clubs on campus, consider attending their first general body meeting on Sept. 9, at the College of Computing Room 117. Check out Buzz Studios on their website, buzzstudios.org for upcoming events and workshops.