Oregon Road Film Series Film Challenge

Fall 2023 Owens students can participate in filmmaking weekend

Jen Hazel and Rob Thomas

July 16, 2023

News

This fall will feature the annual Oregon Road (ORFS) Film Challenge. The FREE challenge is scheduled for October’s Friday the 13th weekend, with film writing, production, editing and posting taking place October 13-15, 2023.

The ORFS Film Challenge gives participating teams roughly a 48-hour period in which to create a short (up to 8-minutes) film with a specific theme.

Participating teams will register online during the fall 2023 semester. The registration link, as well as film challenge details like genre, dialogue and scene prop needed to complete a film will be released during the fall 2023 semester.

Owens students should mark their calendars now to participate.

About the Contributors

Jen Hazel, Faculty Editor

Jen Hazel has been a Professor of English at Owens Community College for 16 years, and she hopes to be here for at least another 16! In addition to her role as a Professor, she has led many projects and initiatives such as revamping the advising program; creating a new student orientation experience; developing campus student mentoring; leading a team in the creation of a co-requisite Composition I course with workshops for educators; and most recently, in conjunction with the manager of tutoring, implemented an embedded tutoring pilot Jen designed; created the Oregon Road Film Series, which includes the ORFS Film Challenge, where Rob Thomas is the co-pilot; leads a team of faculty to publish The Silo, a creative work journal for students and faculty, every spring; and finally, with the Library Director, developed and leads The BIG Read, which raises awareness of different perspectives through literature and accompanying activities across campus and in the surrounding communities. Jen is also the Humanities Department Program Director and designed three brand new certificates that began last fall--one of which is the Media Influencer Certificate! Even with all these projects, according to Jen, nothing is more amazing working with students to help them find their “Ah-ha!” moment.

Rob Thomas, Faculty Advisor

Rob Thomas is an Owens Community College Fine and Performing Arts faculty member. He is the Broadcast Media and Technology assistant professor and advisor for the Owens OutComm Student Media Center. Before coming to instruct full time at Owens Community College, Rob served several years with the YMCA of Greater Toledo within their marketing and communications department, promoting the organization to staff, members, volunteers, community collaborators, media, and the community at large. Prior to his career with the Y, Rob spent 18 years in the broadcast industry as air talent and production director for Clear Channel (now known as iHeart Media) that included Toledo radio stations 92.5 Kiss FM, (WVKS), 101.5 The River (WRVF), FM 104 WIOT, 1230 AM-WCWA and 1370 AM-WSPD. Rob is a multimedia producer and content creator, utilizing his skills to help not-for-profit and for-profit businesses increase their awareness to the audience they serve. Clients Rob has worked with include Car Stereo One, The Erie Shores Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Jeffrey Mann Fine Jewelers, Stone Oak Business Condominiums, The Toledo Diocese Office of Black Catholic Ministry, the Sylvania Northview Wildcat Marching Band, and most recently OhioMeansJobs Lucas County. Rob earned a Bachelors degree in Radio-Television Production with emphasis on Broadcast Script Writing from Ohio University (Athens, Ohio). His hobbies and interests include improv, science fiction, radio plays, collecting sound effects, making short films, and hosting the Classic Rock Lunch, heard Thursdays from 11 am until 1 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am until 2 pm, on OutCast, OCCR – Owens Community College Radio. Rob also volunteers his time and talent to the community in various ways, including mentoring local elementary school students for their televised closed-circuit morning announcements, tutoring students and serving on committees for his church. Rob is the former voice of the Sylvania Northview High School Wildcats Marching Band and announced the music selections during pre-game and half-time performances. He also served on the Harbor, Inc. board of trustees.