CMU Senior Wins Prestigious ‘Short Form Fiction’ Film Award

An incoming Colorado Mesa University Senior just brought home the gold with his film produced for his Advanced Video Production final.

A professor submitted the short film to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Heartland Chapter, only to have it selected as the winner for the Student Production: Fiction Short Form award.

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More Than Just a Passing Grade

Colorado Mesa University student Dalen Brazelton made a 5:37 short film entitled "Kovid." This was submitted during the Spring 2020 semester as a final project for his Advanced Video Production class.

Impressed with the project, the course's professor felt it deserved recognition. According to CMU Now, the professor submitted it to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Heartland Chapter.

About the Award

If you look at the Emmy Awards homepage, you'll spot dozens of fascinating categories encompassing everything from news coverage, sports coverage, Talent: Reporter - Investigative, and the category for which Brazelton won his award, Student Production: Fiction - Short Form.

We are a membership-based organization dedicated to advancing and awarding excellence in all areas of media and television, through our Emmy® Awards competition, scholarships, and programs. We are one of 19 regional chapters across the US, covering Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. - emmyawards.tv

According to CMU Now, this marks the first time CMU has won in that category. In addition, this is the first time an individual student has taken the trophy.

Check Out The Film

Personally, I found this to be a remarkable film. The pacing is excellent, and the production quality is spectacular. Check out the shot showing rainfall at 3:19. Brazelton says he accomplished this utilizing CGI. The thunder you hear was accomplished by Brazelton using the side of his washing machine. As he says, "...everything you see or hear in the film was made in-house."

Congratulations to Brazelton and the faculty and students at Colorado Mesa University. This is a monumental achievement.