Under the instruction of University of Mississippi theatre arts professor Jim Shollenberger, students Alex Mauney and Whitney Merritt set out to write four scenes about dating. The duo met once a week over an entire semester to discuss and collaborate on the project. They handed in their final draft of “Part of the Heard” just four days before graduation last spring.
“The biggest obstacle was just finding time to write,” said Mauney, a 2009 UM graduate. “We were both juggling classwork, trying to complete our senior studio projects along with rehearsals for various stage shows. It was very tricky.”
Acted by students in the Department of Theatre Arts, the film premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday (March 3) in Fulton Chapel. The movie is to be screened nightly through March 6 and again at 2 p.m. March 7. Tickets are $10.50 for adults, $8.50 for children and seniors, and $7 for UM students.
A full-length feature film, “Part of the Heard” is a quirky, off-beat comedy about a college girl with self-esteem problems who lists various versions of herself – including a “goth girl,” a sexy seductress and a Daisy Duke type – on Craigslist.com in hopes of finding a match. What she finds is that she really needs to rethink her life.
“The film pretty accurately captures college-age girls and guys doing the silly and sometimes stupid and sometimes hurtful things they do,” said Shollenberger, editor and director. “What it mostly does is make you laugh.”
Mauney, 23, of Ripley, said it’s satisfying to see classmates from Ole Miss in the film, but the greatest joy was collaborating with Merritt, 23, of Tupelo.
“Whitney is someone I respected and loved as an artist and friend,” Mauney said. “We had a blast together, and I wouldn’t trade a moment of it.”
For more information on the Department of Theatre Arts, go to http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/