Digital and Visual Storytelling major wins short film award

Greyson Duncan credits weekends spent watching movies with his grandfather, Blane Bailey, for his love of filmmaking.

Duncan, an undergraduate student in the digital and visual storytelling program at Augusta University, initially saw films as mere fun. However, he later grasped filmmaking’s complexities, and his talks with Bailey shifted to what they liked, disliked and would change in films.

Duncan, who is in his last year in the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, recently won “Best Narrative Short Film” at Atlanta Metropolitan State College’s fifth annual “Bring Your Brilliance” Film Festival.

Sunny Sides and Dirty Tables was developed and produced in professor Matthew Buzzell’s Short Film Production class.

“The film is about a busboy who’s been working at his job for a bit,” Duncan said. “He’s comfortable where he’s at, and then he gets a promotion with a little more responsibility. The old chef he works with starts to see himself in him, so he goes and has a talk with him about the future and what he really wants to do with his life, and pushes him into at least trying. Even if it doesn’t work out the way that he wants, at least he’ll know that he tried so he’s not like him who gave up on his dream and ‘got stuck.’

“I really want to thank my cast and crew because this film would have been nothing without them.”

The film festival is open to all Georgia residents, including high school students. The submitted films must be original works in English or with English subtitles.

The film categories included short documentary with a maximum length of 10 minutes, short narrative with a maximum length of 10 minutes and micro film with a maximum length of 2 minutes.

“My grandfather, who also stars in the film, FaceTimed me around 11:30 at night after it was announced I won; he was just so proud of me,” Duncan said. “He’s been there watching me be invested in film from the start. It was great hearing that encouragement from him. It really helps me out, and I can tell he’s proud.”

The movie concept came from a variety of ideas but is rooted in Duncan’s experience working in the food and beverage industry since he was 16.

“The restaurant that I filmed in is my aunt and uncle’s, and that was my first job that I worked on the weekends,” he said. “The concept is part because I know the environment, and I know the loop. People who are in food and beverage will say it will suck you in, and it’s hard to get out. Thankfully Augusta University is here to give me some extra skills.”

Buzzell has enjoyed following Duncan’s progress in the program and said he brings an earnest curiosity to the craft. Buzzell noted Duncan’s dedication to his creative journey should be commended, as should his ability to tell a story with heart.

“The film’s narrative is centered on integrity and good intentions,” Buzzell said. “Its messaging is sincere and purposeful. There is also an endearing touch of quirky humor that points to the film being reflective of its maker.”

Duncan said winning the award feels great, especially after being denied in the past. He is happy to represent a university like AU and show the state “it doesn’t have to always be the big guy or the big college who gets the reward.”

Buzzell said the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital and Visual Storytelling program is still a relatively new program in the Department of Art and Design, and it’s great to have someone like Duncan representing AU and the department by prevailing at this statewide competition.

“The fact that students in this program are already finding success competitively at the state level is extremely gratifying,” Buzzell said. “Greyson has now become a role model for the students just starting our program. We are very proud of him.”