Professors often work endlessly to ensure that their students get the best knowledge and experience available. The task of ensuring that college students receive practical job experience in their major through class can be daunting. Thankfully, Messiah College professor, Krista Imbesi, found a way for her Advanced Film students to gain this experience while reuniting with a former Messiah classmate to work on the short film, "Thornbird."

Professor Krista Imbesi was excited for her class of Advanced Film majors because they were given the opportunity to work fellow Messiah College graduate Jonathan Stutzman. “I really wanted [the students] to experience what it’s like to work with a director that has done a lot of [films]. I wanted them to see what it’s like to fulfill someone else’s dream,” Imbesi said.

Stutzman was happy that his dream would finally be realized. “I’ve always had this idea for a film. I’ve been thinking and planning this film for a long time,” Stutzman said. His dream is in regard to major issues that young people face in reality.

“I wanted to make a film that addressed self-worth. The film shows someone who has lost their love for themselves. I see a lot of young people have such a difficult time with body image and self-worth. It’s something that has been on my mind for a very long time,” Stutzman explained. His prolonged thought propelled the film to be finished quickly.

“We shot the film over the course of two days during Spring semester finals [2015],” said Messiah Sophomore Film Major and Makeup Artist Lindsay Corriveau. “It was difficult on all of us, but definitely worth it. You know, we spent one morning in a cramped Dutch style house just to get the [opening scene]. One of our crew members had to stand on a ladder for eight hours to hold the snow machine,” Corriveau said.

The film put competition on ice when it was viewed in the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival. Melting the hearts of critics, "Thornbird" was awarded “Best Short with a Social Scene.” Stutzman hopes that the film is accepted into other major film festivals in the immediate future.

“It was really a joy to work on this film. It was really incredible to see it all come together the way it did. Mr. Stutzman was a joy to work with, and I really hope I get to work with him again,” said Senior Digital Media Major and head Cinematographer Anthony Watkins. Watkins had the pleasure of operating the highly regarded Red Epic camera, which is the same style camera used to film "The Hobbit."

This influential project that yielded spectacular results really pleased professor Imbesi. “It’s really great when alumni can interact with current students. It nice when a collaborating nature can be achieved to make something this creative and artistic,” Imbesi said.

Stutzman hopes that sometime this Fall he will be able to debut "Thornbird" on Messiah’s campus. Hopefully, "Thornbird" spreads its wings and flies beyond any foreseeable heights to help spread the message that Stutzman really wanted to convey: “You're beautiful.”