Private Project

Becoming BFA: The_Showcase_Showdown

A look behind the curtain at the naïve and fiercely competitive graduating BFA Acting majors at a prestigious Midwest theatre school. This mockumentary short film follows the drama that ensues in and out of the rehearsal room as these students prepare for the moment that could make or break their careers, bank accounts and self-respect: SENIOR SHOWCASE. -- This is their story.

  • Andrew Otchere
    Creator
  • Andrew Otchere
    Director
  • Vaughn Melbourn
    Director
  • Andrew Otchere
    Executive Producers
  • Alyssa Maria Melani
    Executive Producers
  • Andrew Otchere
    Writer
  • Clara Dossetter
    Writer
  • Paul Legallet
    Writer
  • Alyssa Maria Melani
    Writer
  • Pete Dickey
    Writer
  • Macy Goller
    Writer
  • Stefania Gonzalez
    Producer
  • Cortez Hill
    Producer
  • Jeevin Singh
    Producer
  • Austin Mital-Skiff
    Director of Photography
  • Simone Clotile
    Key Cast
    "Nina"
  • Henry Conner
    Key Cast
    "Ryan"
  • Pete Dickey
    Key Cast
    "Professor Tate"
  • Clara Dossetter
    Key Cast
    "Dakota"
  • Maia Dron
    Key Cast
    "Alex"
  • Miles Elliot
    Key Cast
    "Kyle"
  • Violetta Fisco
    Key Cast
    "Isabelle"
  • Sam Labovitz
    Key Cast
    "Lil' Turkey"
  • Charles Lee-Rossing
    Key Cast
    "Nico"
  • Paul Legallet
    Key Cast
    "Colby"
  • Alyssa Maria Melani
    Key Cast
    "Lacey"
  • Atticus Olivet
    Key Cast
    "Sebastian"
  • Andrew Otchere
    Key Cast
    "Judah"
  • Ruby Holladay
    Key Cast
    "Faith"
  • Olivia Luisa Sinnott
    Key Cast
    "Reese"
  • Mitchell Rowland
    Camera Operator
  • Dan Tracy
    Editors
  • Adela Papiez
    Editors
  • Allison Baker
    Editors
  • Josh Kuo
    Editors
  • Renata Schmult
    Music Team
  • Fred Evans
    Sound Team
  • Jana Evans
    Sound Team
  • Tara Twal
    Sound Team
  • Jillian Craighead
    Sound Team
  • Myah Bridgewater
    Asst. Director
  • Anna Forberg
    Production Manager
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Mockumentary, Sitcom
  • Runtime:
    34 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 24, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    13,200 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED KOMODO 6K Pro
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Director Biography - Andrew Otchere, Vaughn Melbourn

ANDREW OTCHERE [awe-tree] (Creator) is a first generation Ghanaian-American, multi-hyphenated creative from Loudoun County, VA. He is a recent graduate of University of Michigan’s BFA Acting Program. Though his love for the arts began as a theatre performer at the age of 10, his passion for storytelling has evolved and manifested itself into writing, directing, and developing his own work. Living at the intersection of storytelling and social justice, he finds joy in using art to provide entertainment, ignite discourse, and simply just make people laugh!

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Instead of laughter, how ‘bout a thank for the Gift of Laughter?” - Branden Jacob Jenkins... i think? 🤔

When I think back on the process of BECOMING BFA, I’m filled with nothing but joy to think of what we created. This film was a collaboration that featured my entire Graduating Class of 18 BFA actors and many more of our peers. What was once an idea that we joked about as eager-eyed freshmen became a passion project that we can look back on and celebrate. Like many others, the majority of our college experience was derailed by the COVID pandemic. Yearning for opportunities to exercise the skills that many of us were paying nearly 70K each year to do (and not on Zoom), we banded together to make this film as a way to commemorate our experience that was anything but “normal.”

From the writing, directing, producing, performances and more, we spent over a year creating this as a cohort and through the long filming days filled with tears of laughter and exhaustion, we learned to appreciate each other even more.

To me, BECOMING BFA is a reminder of the importance of a united artistic community and the healing power of a good laugh. As I’ve now graduated and prepared to enter this industry as an overly-ambitious storyteller, I yearn for more creative spaces that make me thankful for the gift of laughter.