A short film produced with the assistance of Weber State University performing arts students and faculty is premiering at various film festivals across the country. Pencils Down, a dark workplace comedy featuring an all-female cast, made its world premiere at the Palm Springs International Short Fest in late June.
The film was shot over three days in May 2025 in New York City. The production provided five WSU students the chance to gain behind-the-scenes experience on a professional film set and connect with industry professionals.
Mei Flint, a junior majoring in theatre arts with an emphasis in acting and directing, served as a personal assistant for the art department. Flint, who ordered and designed props and assisted with set dressing, stated that the experience impacted her view of her future and made working on film sets a new career goal.
Rachel McPhee, who co-wrote and starred in the film, noted that she intended to collaborate with the Weber State community from the beginning of development to provide students with hands-on experience alongside professional actors and filmmakers.
The Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities School of Performing Arts has a history of collaborating with the New York City-based theater company Adjusted Realists. Performing arts chair Jessica Greenberg is a member of Adjusted Realists, which has provided multiple professional opportunities for WSU students through theater productions. These experiences have been funded by the Friz Family Foundation.
Assistant professor of theater Fan Zhang served as the film's costume designer and faculty chaperone during the trip. Zhang stated that the goal of the project was to provide an educational environment that allows students to learn while feeling comfortable and safe in a professional setting.
Pencils Down is scheduled to premiere at the The Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival on August 5, followed by the HollyShorts Film Festival in Hollywood from August 13-23.
