[457]CANNES FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOW MTSU FILM TO CINEMA ELITE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOW MTSU FILM TO CINEMA ELITE
College of Mass Communication Students’ Work Accepted for Second Year in a Row

(MURFREESBORO) – For the second consecutive year, the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the world, has accepted an independent film produced by MTSU students and faculty. The movie, which is titled “Wait…,” also has been accepted by Digifest in Florence, Italy, and is under consideration by nearly 40 other festivals around the globe. “I’m astonished and humbled at the same time,” Dr. Bob Pondillo, professor of electronic media communication and the screenwriter and director of “Wait…,” says. “This validates the work of MTSU mass communication faculty and students.” Pondillo and his students first attracted attention at Cannes last year with “My Name is Wallace,” the touching tale of an emotionally challenged man who looks for love in a very unusual way. Both films star Los Angeles-based professional actor David Lawrence, who shares executive producer credit with Pondillo. “Wait …,” a short subject only nine minutes and 25 seconds in length, reveals the emotional agonies of a man upon learning that his son has been killed in Iraq. It was shot in one day on location in Murfreesboro. In addition to Pondillo, the other College of Mass Communication faculty members involved in production are journalism professor Ray Wong, who provided printing services, and Dr. Robert Wood of the Department of Recording Industry, who composed the score. The crew of MTSU students includes David Poag (Culleoka), Jacob Smithson (Woodbury), Daniel Rowland (Milledgeville, Ga.), Jonathan Parris (Murfreesboro), Jesse Davidson (Nashville), Carianne Lance (Chattanooga), Tyler Sheldon (Knoxville), Justin Stokes (Indianapolis, Ind.), Drew Weaver (Cordova, Ala.), Chrissy Coburn (Pigeon Forge) and Travis Holmes (Murfreesboro).
To view the film and for more information on “Wait…,” go to http://www.waitfilm.com. For interviews, contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For color jpeg photos shot on location during the filming of “Wait…” and still photos from the movie, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.