Students in COMM 105 filming “The Deal.” Photo credit: Daniel Weber

April 12, 2023

Andrews Students to Exhibit Film at Sonscreen Film Festival

Eight simple words. Eight words that have turned in to a short film that will be screening at the Sonscreen Film Festival, April 13–15, in Loma Linda, California.

“The Deal,” a short film produced by the students in COMM 105 Intro to Video and Film, will be competing in the Comedy category of the festival, which has been running for more than 20 years and is sponsored by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

Each semester the students in Intro to Video and Film are challenged to write a short script based on eight words the class comes up with. Each student then “pitches” the concept for their short film to the class, which votes on the film they want to produce. “The Deal” was written by Khaylee Sands, a health sciences major, who also worked as the director of photography on the film. Other members of the class involved in the production include Simon Brown (director), Joel Pelletier (producer), Nathaniel Reid (editor) and Moraya Truman (grip, person in charge of lighting).

Daniel Weber, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Visual Art, Communication & Design, teaches COMM 105 Intro to Video and Film and will be taking Khaylee Sands and Nathaniel Reid to Sonscreen to share about the production of the film. Weber teaches the film class every semester, and his current class is in the middle of production on their next film.

Founded in 1874, Andrews University is the flagship institution of higher education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and offers more than 150 areas of study, including advanced degrees. Its main campus is in Berrien Springs, Michigan, but the University also provides instruction at colleges and universities in more than 25 countries around the world.


Daniel Weber, chair of the Andrews University Department of Visual Art, Communication & Design