Thomas Morrill and Professor Thomas Russell, Theatre & Media Arts Department

Dear ORCA,

One year ago I rolled film (purchased with my ORCA funds) through a 16mm motion-picture camera on stage two at the LDS Motion Picture Studio. Through the combined efforts of many students, faculty members, the Theatre and Media Arts Department, the LDS Church, and specifically ORCA my project was a complete and total success.

Seriously, the Appomattox film shoot was contrary to the usual student-shoot story. We shot two twelve-hour days, both of which ended on time and even a bit early. Most shoots go over time due to ill preparedness, inexperience, or poor funding. However, because of the additional help I received monetarily and in-kind I was able to maintain the professionalism needed to get done what was needed in the most efficient way.

The film looks fantastic, and has received great responses from the audiences that have seen it thus far. To this point Appomattox has only played in the on-campus film festival Final Cut. And even then it played as a rough cut and still played very well. I still plan on submitting it to many more film festivals where I know it will be warmly met during the ever-increasing political nature of this country.

Please accept my deepest thanks for your help once again and applaud the ORCA program.

Sincerely,

Thomas G Morrill