A number of Boise State artists worked on “Making Sense,” a film in which an aging neuroscientist seeks to prove that people with disabilities – those he describes as “sensory enlightened” – hold the key to unlocking a sixth sense.
The film was part of the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival and screened Feb. 11-15. The festival, entering its 46th year, is the oldest independent genre film festival in the U.S.
The cast and crew includes Richard Klautsch, a professor of theatre arts and department chair of the Department of Theatre, Film, and Creative Writing, Margaret LeMay, department management assistant, Brooke Burton, adjunct faculty, as well as Boise State theatre alums Justin Ness and Brian Telestai. Former and current film students include: Max Miguel Ayala, Andrea Carrizales, second assistant director, Dylan Pfaffenberger (the film program’s first graduate) second assistant camera, and George Hysmith, grip. Lorena Davis from the Department of Communication was set dresser and Chris Anderson, an adjunct in the film program, was art director. Olivia Tripp and Alexsandria Ravella also attended Boise State and contributed to the project.
The film was financed by IncludeAbility Inc., the Boise nonprofit disability organization. The Boise nonprofit creative organization JUMP contributed tech support and the use of locations in Boise and Payette Lake in McCall for three weeks of shooting.
“Boise State played a critical role in the film coming to life,” said Doug Cole, the film’s executive producer and writer. “Nearly a third of the cast and crew had some connection to the university, either as a professor, staff member or student and we filmed several scenes on campus. Boise State has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion so they were a natural partner for this important film which aims to change perceptions of people with disabilities.”
“Making Sense” was chosen for the Sun Valley Film Festival as a Work in Progress in March 2020, but was delayed because of the pandemic.
Keep up with the latest news about the film here: https://www.makingsense-film.com/media.
Read about the film in The Idaho Press.
Watch a story from KTVB.