Director's Statement
I was asked by Tom Reed, Chair of Performing Arts at Alverno College, if I'd be willing to write, direct and develop a short film project that Alverno College could then produce using only the college's students/staff as the on screen talent in the film. I was more than excited to write something so I pitched the idea for what would become "Don't Lose Faith" .
“Don't Lose Faith” is a film about a freshman girl entering college just months after the death of her mother and renouncing her Christian faith. She looks to renew her faith with God while meeting new friends and exploring other more demonic beliefs. I'm honored to have made this incredibly powerful horror short with the talented students of Alverno College. We were able to create a space for the students to perform on a professional film set and, while they learned a great deal, they also proved that Alverno has actors talented enough for film and television roles. The cinematography of the short film was beautifully shot by DP Timothy Moder.
Brian Klewin
Community Collaboration
During the fall of 2022 Alverno partnered with Brian Klewin, a multiple award-winning filmmaker, to produce an up-and-coming short film Don’t Lose Faith. Students along with one of our very own professors, Carole Barrowman, were given the incredible opportunity to be a part of this project and collaborate with exceptional members in the Milwaukee area. Whether it was on or off-screen, these students showcased their abilities through a different lens.
Ruby Marine, Thomas Reed, Chloe Brown, and John Carlo Rosillo
Experiences
I had a really fun time on set. The cinematography department was very welcoming to me in particular and encouraged me to ask questions and went out of their way to explain certain aspects of their jobs. The director was very straightforward with me about what he wanted from me, and I found that very helpful because I’d never done anything like set dressing before. We worked together to tweak certain aspects of the environment. The cast was very cooperative and so sweet, and they really listened to me when I explained certain safety precautions to them considering a majority of my job was handling candles. Even on the rare occasions it was tense, you could tell any frustrations came from a place of genuine care towards the film and wanting to create the best possible final product.
-Ruby Marine
Being on set was great! I always like working in an environment built to foster learning, and all the players were vested in making this an opportunity for Alverno students to really broaden their understanding of film in a hands on way. That made set a very special place to be.
- Tim Moder
The on-set environment was fun and energetic, and everyone was hard-working. The actors supported each other, the camera team was tight knit and productive, and Brian had a good relationship with everyone on set, which kept the energy positive.
-Ian