| Long Synopsis (Contains Spoilers)
Will Shaker, a stereotypical, optimistic, and deluded college
freshman is excited about his first day in the film program at Towson
University. His proverbial bubble is quickly popped as he realizes
that film school is a lot harder than he thought.
Regardless of his first day complications, Will is determined to be
successful here at Towson. He soon meets up with his high school best
friend, Akeem Parks. The two discuss their summer adventures, during
which, Akeem tells Will that he had made a movie that helped him to
pay for his entire education.
Needless to say, Will is not thrilled by this news, feeling that
his best friend, who always treated him as a mentor of sorts, has
progressed farther then his "teacher." Once again, though,
Will brushes this off and the two discuss their first class.
Akeem is shocked to find out that Will has never heard of their
professor, Thomas Wood. Akeem proceeds to explain that Thomas Wood is
like a god at Towson because he is the only professor to make it
through "The Wood" (Hollywood). Akeem tells Will to make
sure to get in good with Professor Wood.
Their conversation is cut short by Jaclyn "Jack" Dern who
asks the guys for help loading film into a camera. Will, who is
instantly smitten by Jack, offers to help, but Jack quickly learns
that he knows less then he says. Will finds that he is the only one of
the trio that hasn't worked with actual film.
Akeem and Jack discuss film theory as they walk to class, followed
by a clueless Will. Will is caught eyeing Jack's "goodies"
and quickly blames it on having an off day. Akeem is mentions that
it's only the first day and "it should all be downhill from
here."
Suddenly the door bursts open and in steps the foreboding,
Professor Thomas Wood. He quickly makes it clear that his class is
hard and that the students will just have to deal with it. To prove
his point he immediately calls Will to the front of the class to
demonstrate how to assemble a camera.
Will is unable to assemble the camera, and, to the shock of the
class, admits that he was unaware of pre-class readings about
assembling the camera. Wood proceeds to reprimand Will, topping it off
by telling him that it only gets harder from here and maybe he should
consider dropping the program.
Will contemplates dropping the program and finally decides to tell
Wood that he is done with film at Towson University. He is determined
to tell Wood now, but is interrupted by his friend, Akeem who is
having trouble setting up a shot for a project. Will tries to explain
to Akeem that he needs to project his intended emotion onto the
audience. Will proceeds to help Akeem with his visuals while Akeem
helps Will with his technical requirements.
After helping Akeem, Will is finally able to go speak with Wood,
but as he passes by the editing suites, he hears faint crying. The
crying is coming from Jack who is crying because she believes that her
film does not make sense and that people place her into a certain
clique because of her attitude. She shows Will her film. Will explains
to Jack that if you understand and believe in your film that it
doesn't matter what others think because it is your film...not theirs.
Jack and Will share a moment where Will contemplates that Jack's
beautiful smile would be the last image he'd take from the
school.
Finally reaching Wood's office, Will confesses that he is dropping
the program. Wood is less than apathetic to Will's decision. As Will
goes to leave, Wood tells him that he is the one that screened Will
into the film program and while Will's film, from a technical aspect,
was horrible, the emotion was present and that is tough to teach. Wood
says that Will will regret leaving the program for the rest of his
life. Will criticizes Wood due to his background in Hollywood,
claiming that Wood knows nothing about regret.
Wood stomps out that theory by telling Will about how when his
third movie was a flop, no one wanted to work with him. Wood explains
that his was his friends from school that stood behind him and helped
him to get a job at Towson, not his Hollywood friends. Will leaves
Wood's office with a new view on life. He decides to stay with the
program.
The next day at class, Will successfully loads the film into the
camera and Wood is impressed. Just after Will finally admits that it
feels like everything would be ok, he trips in front of the
class.
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