Murder mystery video wins 'reel' big contest at library

A murder mystery unfolded Wednesday evening at ISU's Cunningham Memorial Library.

The murder mystery, "The McCutchen Files," was the $500 first-prize winner and winner of best screenplay short film entered in the online Reel Big Library Contest.

The awards were presented Wednesday evening in the events area of the library.

"The McCutchen Files," is a short film directed and produced by Chad Fedler, sophomore criminology and criminal justice major, and Ben Jones, senior marketing major.

The film featured an insomnia-plagued detective who was trying to solve a murder mystery in the lower level at the library.

The death was really caused by a heart attack, but the detective insisted the cause of death was something unusual.

In the end the cause of death was announced it was the effect of reading a scary novel.

"Suspense really can kill," the detective said in the movie. The audience of about 25 almost did not view the winning film because the file was misplaced on the computer being used to view the films during the ceremony.

"It feels great to win the award," Fedler said.

Eric Schulz, a junior radio, television and film major produced the second-place film that won $300.

Schultz's short film was "Pete Conquers His Freshman Year," a story of a freshman named Pete who found that the Cunningham Memorial Library was the answer to all his problems during his first year at ISU.

"The prize money was a big motivation," Schulz said.

The title of third place was presented along with $200 to Ezra Birt, a junior graphic design major.

Birt's film was titled "micro Epic micro."

"It is the classic medieval story: a hero saving a girl while fighting a dragon, with a twist," Birt said.

The twist was the characters were all cut-outs from books, and the film used all digital animation.

Anthony Kaiser, the chair of reference and instruction at the Cunningham Memorial Library, said he was amazed by the creativity and technology of today's era compared to when he was involved with film "It is slightly less confusing," he said about trying to make these films.

( Heidi Staggs is a freshman communication and legal studies major. She can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu.)