Student filmmakers showcase their work on WXXI in the next edition of ‘RIT Shorts’

WXXI continues to spotlight the work of students and alumni from RIT’s School of Film and Animation through RIT Shorts, a biannual short film series. The next edition of RIT Shorts premieres at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, on WXXI-TV, and it will be streamed live on the WXXI app. The collection of short films will be featured again at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26.

While the first edition of RIT Shorts followed the theme of sports, the theme of the upcoming film showcase is musicals.

Colin O’Brien, a fourth-year film and animation – production option major from Berkeley, Calif., has composed music for many RIT films since he came to campus. When planning for his third-year film,  O’Brien chose to combine his passions for music and filmmaking by creating a musical short film. The result, Stuffy: The Musical, tells the story of Jamie, a soon-to-be college student who is resistant to the idea of letting go of his childhood and growing up.

When O’Brien learned that his film was selected for RIT Shorts, he was excited at the opportunity to showcase both his own work and the work of many friends and colleagues that helped bring his film to life. 

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Nash Snyder

‘Stuffy: The Musical,’ written and directed by Colin O’Brien, features two fellow fourth-year film and animation students Jacob French and Andrew Schlegel.

“I want people to watch and appreciate the projects that people are making here. They’re working really hard and their films are super well made. You can see the time, effort, and love that is put into them,” he said.

In addition to offering a platform for young filmmakers to share their work with a broader audience, Todd McCammon said that the series gives WXXI viewers the chance to see the varied talent and creativity housed at RIT.

“Seeing the national coverage of RIT's School of Film and Animation—including placing in The Hollywood Reporter’s and TheWrap’s 2024 lists of best film schools in the U.S.—WXXI takes pride in being able to present these films to our community now and, hopefully, for years to come,” said McCammon, WXXI’s vice president of television.

Jack Beck, professor and undergraduate program director for the film and animation – production option program, said that sharing their work in public venues is vital for students’ growth as creatives. When reflecting on the experiences of these current students, he was reminded of his own experience seeing his work broadcast on television for the first time as a graduate student.

“For someone who is in their twenties just starting out, it’s an exciting experience. It’s different from screening at a theater or posting on YouTube,” said Beck. “There’s a little more legitimacy to being broadcast on WXXI.”