Las Vegas City Wire

Students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) are producing an independent movie so they can gain filmmaking skills.

The film, titled "Riot in Bloom," is being shot on campus and around town, according to a news release from the university. Three moviemakers and educators from the UNLV Department of Film created the movie. Associate professor Brett Levner is the director, Roudi Boroumand is the screenwriter and casting director, and May May Luong is the producer. Students, industry experts, and faculty will collaborate as they shoot, edit, produce, and distribute the movie.

"Gone are the days of having to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to make a film," Levner said in the news release. "Now, with the advent of digital cinema and the rise of streaming and the internet, there is a demand for content. We want to inspire our students to take the bull by the horns and stop waiting and make their films. This class will show them how that is possible."

Levner earned a bachelor's degree with honors in cinema and TV production from New York University, the news release noted. She then earned a master's degree with honors in directing from Columbia University. She was the first female recipient of the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker Award for her short film "Being Reel" and was recognized for excellence in filmmaking at the 2005 Association of Independent Commercial Producers event. "Being Reel" is part of the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection.

Levner acquired many credits as a writer, director, and producer, according to the news release. She directed a feature film titled "The Track" about sex trafficking of underage people in Las Vegas. Levner's students have won their own accolades under her tutelage, such as the Pacific Southwest Student Emmy Award, Spirit of Activism Award, Addy Award, and Best Nevada Filmmaker Award.