The Severed Sun set for world premiere at Fantastic Fest
19 September 2024
The Severed Sun, the debut feature film from director and Falmouth University lecturer, Dean Puckett is set to world premiere at this year’s Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in North America. Known for his distinctive approach to blending folk horror with surreal and thought-provoking storytelling, Puckett’s new film has already generated considerable buzz ahead of its premiere at the world-famous Alamo Drafthouse cinema in Austin, Texas.
However, what makes this project particularly special is the extensive involvement of students from the School of Film & Television, where Puckett is a full-time lecturer, through the department's Sound/Image Cinema Lab.
More than twenty students from courses, including Film BA(Hons), Television & Film Production BA(Hons), Costume Design for Film & Television BA(Hons), Film & Television MA, and Prosthetic Effects MA contributed to the production of The Severed Sun, working across various departments and playing crucial roles in bringing the film to life. From assisting on set to post-production tasks, these students gained invaluable industry experience—many for the first time—by working on a professional feature film under the guidance of the heads of department to whom they were assigned.
“We simply could not have made this film without the support of the School of Film & Television, spearheaded by Dr Laura Canning (Course Leader, Film BA) who was also an executive producer and our second unit director with her own crew of students, and the incredible hard work and passion of the students,” Dean Puckett said in the lead-up to the premiere.
Trainee script supervisor Bridget Bowers (Television & Film Production BA) was thrown into the deep end on the shoot: “Whilst working on The Severed Sun, I got the opportunity to step onto a real-world industry set to see the process of a feature film shoot from the beginning to the end. As terrified as I was to be in charge of continuity with long time industry professionals, it was the most exciting opportunity I have had for my career. Not only did I become friends with industry experts, but I got to establish myself as a professional script supervisor. After shooting The Severed Sun, I used what I learnt from my director Dean Puckett, to write and direct my own short film that evolved into a production company I founded which hosts workshops with other women, teaching them how to script supervise and helping them find new jobs in the industry. The Severed Sun was the most enjoyable, energetic set I could have started on and because of the opportunity, I got a foot in the door.”
One aspect of this collaboration is the film’s official trailer, which was edited by Film BA student Justine Robertson – still honing her craft, she was given the key responsibility of shaping the first public glimpse of The Severed Sun.
Trailer for The Severed Sun 2024
“One of the most exciting opportunities was getting to edit the trailer with Dean. It was a creatively enriching experience, pushing me to think more critically about storytelling through editing. Crafting the trailer has given me greater confidence as an editor, ultimately expanding my horizons as a creative professional.” said Justine of her experience.
The collaboration between professionals and students speaks to the philosophy of the School of Film & Television and Sound/Image Cinema Lab at Falmouth University, where students are encouraged to engage directly with real-world projects as part of their learning. The Severed Sun gave these young filmmakers a taste of the fast-paced, often unpredictable nature of the film industry, while allowing them to contribute to a work that will be showcased on a global stage.
As the premiere approaches, both the director and his students are eager to see how audiences respond. For those involved from The School of Film & Television, the experience has already been transformative, giving them confidence and practical skills that will serve them well in their future careers.
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