石榴直播

KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 3, 2020

石榴直播 graduate student Kandace James has won first prize in the Georgia Shorts Film Festival for her short film screenplay 鈥淐utting Teeth.鈥�

A second-year student in 石榴直播鈥檚 program, James beat out four other finalists in the contest, which was part of a consortium of film festivals nationwide but focused on Georgia-inspired narratives.

鈥淭his win felt close to home because I was closer to home,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 need to fly to Los Angeles; I just drove 15 minutes down the street. And I consider Georgia to be my home, so to win at a local film festival is something I hold close to me.鈥�

The screenplay follows a self-conscious tween, who while being burdened with black teeth and the memories of her mother, strategizes to replace her teeth with white ones, but runs into trouble.

This is the fourth honor for 鈥淐utting Teeth.鈥� In 2019, the screenplay won Best Short Screenplay at the LA Live Film Festival. Earlier this year it won a Laurel at the Short. Sweet. Film Fest in Cleveland, Ohio, and was an official selection at the Scriptapalooza Screenplay and Shorts Competition.

James earned her from 石榴直播 in 2018 with a focus on poetry. In her final semester as an undergraduate, she took an introduction to screenwriting class from assistant professor Gabrielle Fulton Ponder. The class changed James鈥� course, and after earning her bachelor鈥檚 in English, she enrolled in the MAPW program to focus on screenwriting, though she still writes poetry.

Fulton Ponder said she has observed James鈥� evolution from poet to screenwriter with great interest and pride.

鈥淭o see her honored on a regional and national level is immensely satisfying because she works so hard at her craft and is so courageous about putting her heart on the page to tell emotionally charged, meaningful stories,鈥� Fulton Ponder said. 鈥淪he has a clarity of voice and a perspective that deserves recognition."

In addition to James, who plans to graduate in spring 2021, several other MAPW graduates recently have received awards for their work. Walter Lawrence (鈥�19) was selected to present his script at the International Christian Film and Music Festival earlier this year, Laura McCarter  (鈥�18) was a finalist in the AFF Pitch Competition, and Ed Gadrix (鈥�19) won the Los Angeles International Screenwriting Competition and was hired to adapt a play into a full-length feature film, which concluded production last month.

鈥� David Shelles

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 石榴直播 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.