UCA students dashed against the clock, filming throughout Stanley Russ with Halloween costumes and props in hand during Film Club’s Shot on iPhone event.

“We just shot stuff on iPhone, and it was really fun,” freshman Gage Figueroa said. “It was a good time to meet people, a good time to see how much actual work probably should go into a film compared to what we actually did today.”

Attendees were split into three groups and tasked to write, shoot and edit a short film in under three hours.

The three films competing were “Paranoia,” “Thunklebob” and “Untitled.”

Sophomore Paola Nelli Bahia, treasurer of the film club, said, “I feel like people had a good time. I was actually impressed with the films that were made. They were really funny.”

Junior Carson Clay said freshmen and newcomers can gain “a little experience of the basic aspects of making a short film.”

“Even though this is very rudimentary and slapdash put together, the core things of ‘Where do we place the camera?’ and ‘What order are the shots gonna be in?’ Stuff like that,” he said.

Before filming began, each member of each group picked out a prop that had to be used in the film.

Several of the chosen props were a giant pink rabbit, a raccoon puppet, a Freddy Fazbear plushie, a green wig and a garden gnome.

Senior Janie Gentry, secretary of the film club, said, “It was really great seeing the level of goofiness that everyone got to because sometimes we have to take things really seriously in the film department, but it’s fun to just do crazy [stuff.]”

Clay said his film, “Thunklebob,” was about two best friends who were viciously attacked by an alien. While one of the friends dies, the other lives on, setting himself on a journey to strike revenge against the alien.

One of the props in “Thunklebob” was a plush axolotl, which was used as the film’s alien antagonist. Clay went on to win best supporting actor for voicing the titular character.

Alongside the props, each film also relied on the attendees’ Halloween costumes.

Junior Ben Walker, star of the film “Paranoia,” was dressed as a wizard.

“The costume was basically the carrier of the entire film because, without it, it wouldn’t have had the same effect,” Walker said.

Walker would later win best actor of the night.

“I feel really great about it. My vocal cords are kind of [messed] up, but it was worth it in the end,” he said.

“Thunklebob” would wrap up the event by winning the audience favorite award.

Clay said, “I’m really proud of the work that we did, and I’m proud of everyone I was on a team with, and to see that hard work recognized means a lot to us.”

This was the third shot on iPhone event that the film club has held, the first two taking place near Halloween 2023 and Valentine’s Day 2023.

Junior Calee Goble, social media executive of the film club, said, “I remember when I first did it, and what came out of it for me was we found friendships and an understanding of what really goes into making a movie.

The film club’s next event will be a movie night featuring cozy fall classics at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 in Stanley Russ room 103.