Archives

The sixth annual SONscreen Film Festival was kicked off on April 10 and ran through April 12 to an audience of young filmmakers from all over the country. The festival was once again held at its host location, the Adventist Media Center in Simi Valley, Calif. The three-day event provided attendees with an eclectic showcase of quality independent Christian filmmaking and a variety of workshops led by industry professionals highlighting screenwriting, cinematography and animation. PUC film instructor and one of the festival organizers, Stephen Eyer, said, “The mission of the SONscreen Film Festival is to nurture Christian filmmakers in their craft, career development and spiritual lives. Although the festival screens films from working professionals, the focus of the festival is on student filmmakers.” Several entries from PUC students were screened at this year’s festival, and Uly Mostrales’ short film “The Green Light” took home an award. Mostrales’ film, about finding inner strength when overcoming loss, received “Best Drama” and was the second award-winning short he’s taken to SONscreen. He won “Best Music Video” at the 2007 ceremony for his visual take of Emery’s “So Cold I Could See My Breath.” The ceremonies also provided a group of PUC students with...

Sacrifice and freedom are not things people typically pair in the same sentence. But surgeon Scott Nelson, '92, wants his life experience to inspire people to just that — “to make sacrifices and live with freedom.” His story is, in some ways, straightforward. At the age of 8, he felt the first tug of destiny when he visited his grandfather Olavi Rouhe, a surgeon who spent 25 years of his career in central Zaire (and also a 1929 graduate of PUC). That visit sparked Nelson’s ongoing interest in medicine and, he says, “With a sense of adventure and a desire to serve it was only sensible that I would follow in his footsteps.” Other influences were added to his grandfather’s. “I owe a great deal of thanks to Pacific Union College, Adventist education and a heritage of sacrifice and mission which we can proudly share with the world,” Scott says. At the PUC dining commons, Scott met one person who would be a big part of that influence: Marni Miller, ’91. After their PUC graduations, Scott and Marni married. “It is largely because of her sacrifices and encouragement that we have been led to do the work we do,” Scott...

On Monday, April 14, the PUC community received a special opportunity to experience the California premiere of Chinese filmmaker Jian Yi’s documentary, “Super, Girls!” PUC resident artist Mei Ann Teo introduced the screening to a full audience and hosted a Q & A session with the director after the screening. As part of a brief U.S. tour for the film, Yi’s visit to PUC was preceded by a packed screening at NYU and followed a day later by a stop at UCLA. The event presented students and faculty with a chance to experience world-class independent filmmaking.The film, “Super, Girls!” is a provocative and private glimpse into the world of the media machine and how it permeates the most personal depths of Chinese society. It begins by introducing the “Supergirls” singing contest, an anyone-can-win singing game show structured in the tradition of “American Idol.” “Supergirls” quickly became the most popular television show in the nation’s history, garnering nearly 450 million viewers during its peak of recognition in the latter half of its two-year run. The show wasn’t just a sensation, it was a movement. At the height of its popularity, it was banned by the Chinese government on accusations of being...

On April 10-13 in Irvine, California, thousands of people attended the Western Psychological Association’s 88th annual convention. Twenty-three of the attendees were from PUC. Twenty students and three teachers traveled to Southern California to take part in this annual convention where cutting-edge research is presented and world-renowned psychologists present lectures. It is an opportunity for students to be exposed to the professional world of psychology and allows them the opportunity to interact with professionals who have worked or are working in specialized fields of psychology, as well as make valuable academic and professional contacts. But PUC students did not go simply to absorb information; they also shared their own research. Every year a few PUC students spend a great deal of the school year working closely with professors to develop professional papers to present at the convention. Paper topics emerge out of personal interests, labs or previous projects that have gone very well. Students must submit proposals to the convention in November. Once accepted the real work begins. They must refine the work they’ve already done by doing further research and further developing their ideas. Students meet with a professor for at least an hour each week to work on...

Soloists and small ensembles in strings, handbells and chorale will perform a spring concert featuring Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings and works by Walton, Bruch, Chopin, Saint-Saens, Schubert, and others. The Octet for Strings is “a beautiful and exciting work that is not performed frequently because it requires eight very fine string players,” says Rachelle Berthelsen-Davis, PUC professor and orchestra director, “so it is a privilege to have the personnel to do so.” Tickets are $20 for general admission and $18 for members. A portion of the proceeds benefits the PUC music department. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone or at the ticket window at COPIA. Doors open for the concert at 7 p.m. and seating is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call (707) 259-1600 or go to www.copia.org...