Lamar University student film ‘NOLA’ accepted to three film festivals

"NOLA," a student-produced short film written by Lamar University (LU) student Heather Harmon and directed by Adam Baeza, has been accepted into three film festivals, earning recognition for the emerging filmmakers and showcasing LU's growing film production community.

The film has been selected for the River Oaks Film Festival, the Pearland Film Festival and the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival.

NOLA follows a woman with nowhere else to turn who finds herself in the clutches of a sinister, sisterly cult.

For Harmon, the multiple festival selections serve as validation of years spent developing her craft.

"I feel very honored that it has been accepted," Harmon said. "It makes me feel that as an up-and-coming filmmaker that I'm doing something right. It inspires me to keep writing and hone my craft into something better."

Baeza said the recognition is especially meaningful because it introduces the team's work to audiences beyond Southeast Texas.

"It is amazing that a project I directed is not only being accepted among so many other great shorts to be shown, but that NOLA is being seen by completely new audiences who have never heard of us and can see what we have to offer," Baeza said. "I'm especially hyped about it showing in Athens, where theater was born."

The film emerged from Harmon's desire to create an original story that blended psychological horror with historical inspiration. She said the creative process began with poetry and literature before taking shape after a visit to the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"I wanted an original idea," Harmon said. "I was finally able to get the idea after visiting Tulsa over the summer and going to the memorial museum."

Baeza said he drew visual and tonal inspiration from contemporary television while challenging the cast and crew to take on one of their most ambitious productions.

"I love pushing boundaries on what we can accomplish as a team," Baeza said. "I believe that this is one of our most daring efforts so far."

Both filmmakers said collaboration proved to be one of the project's greatest strengths.

Harmon said she learned that having a clear creative vision is only part of the process.

"It doesn't get any easier," she said. "But I did learn if you have a solid vision and are willing to make compromises and listen to other people, they do wish to work with you despite your lack of knowledge in certain areas."

Baeza echoed that sentiment, saying the experience reinforced the importance of trusting the people around him.

"They also want the project to succeed," he said. "Their ideas can either directly make it into the film or inspire you to think differently on how a shot can be made."

The filmmakers credit Lamar University with providing both the technical foundation and creative community that made NOLA possible.

"Lamar was the first place I started to get into filmmaking, and I'm very grateful for all I have achieved here," Harmon said. "Had it not been for Lamar, I don't think NOLA would have ever been created."

Baeza said the university's student filmmaking community and faculty mentors helped prepare the production for success.

"I met so many other great filmmakers through Lamar and Red Beak Productions," Baeza said. "Our faculty advisors, including Kaylea Daigle and Gordon Williams, were especially helpful in securing locations and making sure we were prepared for the shoot."

The festival run is only the beginning for the project. Harmon hopes to eventually expand NOLA into a feature-length film, describing the current version as a proof of concept.

"I would love to see NOLA more fleshed out," she said. "I think if I make the film longer it will be more likely to get into even more festivals."

Baeza said the team plans to continue submitting NOLA to festivals while he moves forward with additional short film projects already in production.

"We'll continue to send NOLA to film festivals for as long as they will let us," Baeza said. "I'm also currently working on two short film scripts that I hope audiences and film fests alike will enjoy."

To learn more about Red Beak Productions, follow them on Instagram at @redbeakproductions.