Research Activities

Jay M Boyar

At work on a book about American film comedy, to be published by Scarecrow Press in 2014

Randy Finch, J.D.

Prof. Finch has developed plantcitystories.com, a website that offers a storyworld where the search for a missing girl unfolds (via short films, text and maps) asynchronously and across platforms.

The PCS homepage includes a dozen thumbnail images of different characters. Each thumbnail leads to an audio-visual vignette, which in turn leads to more information in the form of another short film or text or a map. There is also a link on the homepage to posts being made by the protagonist about his search for a missing girl. Each visitor to PCS must make their own choices about how to navigate the site.

One of the unique features of the PCS storytelling is the blurring of distinctions between what is real and fictional. By forcing the viewer to question the truth of this website, Prof. Finch hopes to further an exploration of the themes of this particular project as well as to raise fundamental questions about the act of storytelling and how it is evolving online.

The missing girl link leads to pages that contain daily webcam updates from Nick about the search for Adele. The first such page includes a plea from Beryl, Adele's mother. Subsequent pages include maps where Nick will embed videos documenting what he saw as he moved around Plant City with his camera looking for Adele. The plan is to reveal elements of the missing girl story online every day for six days as if they are clues that Nick is following in a real-life mystery. Eventually, PCS and the "Search for Adele" could operate like a television or webisode series, being updated as often as needed.

The website is designed to be accessible from any web-enabled device. The user is encouraged to click around the site. In particular the user might want to examine the intersection between video and the online tools for topography.

Plant City Stories intends to engage an audience, but it is also research into how an audience can interact with motion picture narrative online and how our storytelling may evolve.

Andrew Kenneth Gay, M.F.A.

Andrew will present his paper "Script Development 2.0: Theorizing the Lean Screenplay" at the 2013 Screenwriting Research Network International Conference in Madison, Wisconsin in August.

Andrew will present his paper "'THE CAMERA IS JEAN-DOMINIQUE BAUBY': Narration and Focalization in the Motion Picture Screenplay" at the 2013 International Conference on Narrative in Manchester, UK, in June.

Andrew will present "Orlando as Moving Image in MCO: An American City Symphony," a discussion of his ongoing essay film project at the 2013 Alexey Zverev International Biennial Conference on American Studies in Moscow, Russia, in May.

Andrew recently published "Screenwriting 2.0 in the Classroom Teaching the Digital Screenplay" in the inaugural issue of Frames Cinema Journal.

Christopher Harris, M.F.A.

• Spring 2013: The Delia Project, 16mm to digital video, b/w, sound (work-in-progress)

Robb Lindgren, Ph.D.

Dr. Lindgren currently directs the Media and Learning Lab at UCF. The objectives of the lab is to design and research interactive technologies that effect how people think and learn. Currently the lab is running a series of studies on how certain characteristics of video games, such as avatar customization, user generated content, and the presence of a strong narrative impact learning and engagement. He is also PI on an NSF-funded research project called MEteor that aims to investigate the effects of "metaphor-based learning" in an immersive mixed reality simulation of planetary astronomy. Data about learning and engagement in science is being collected from hundreds of middle school students both at UCF and at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa, FL.

Anthony B. Major, M.F.A.

• Developing a ZNHIDS Digital Repository/Archive of Zora Neale Hurston and her work here at UCF.
• Developing Exhibits on Zora Neale Hurston, Goldsboro and Jesse L. Brown to tour nationally and be permanently housed in the national Navy Museum in Pensacola. Fl.
• Developing Documentary of Zora and her Eatonville and Sanford roots.
• Developing Documentary on History of Black Churches in Winter Park, Fl.
• Developing Documentary series on Minorities at UCF.

Lisa Mills, Ph.D.

New film in production with working title Hymns of Three Cities about racial injustice in Central Florida.

Lisa C. Peterson, M.A.

Converting Film Production Management to an online course.

Sam Rohdie, Ph.D.

Working on a study of the films of Jean-Luc Godard.

Jesse Wolfe, M.F.A.

• Recently completed post production on the feature film, "Eye Of The Hurricane"
• Currently in development (writer/director) on feature film, "Carver Hotel", and a 1/2 hour comedy series for Endemol Entertainment.