News from The Mahurin Honors College

Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27 the BFA Film Program will be hosting their annual WKU Film Festival event for all to enjoy. Within this event, sophomore Honors Scholar Wyatt Mick from Santa Claus, Indiana will be showing his film he both wrote and directed. Wyatt is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in film production, and his journey through the Honors College has played a significant role in shaping his artistic endeavors, particularly his latest project.

His film, "It's Getting Hot in Here" is a quirky and satirical romantic comedy that he describes as a labor of love. "I started writing it my spring semester freshman year," Wyatt explained. Any spare moment was spent writing. “In Minton, in the yard, in class— pretty much anytime that I wasn't doing schoolwork,” he said. “I was working on that baby because there was a little feeling that this is going to be the one that I direct.”

Wyatt described the film as a "It's a story of a girl who is introverted. She doesn't leave her dorm room, she doesn't really connect with the outside world, but she has fallen in love. And it's with her fire alarm. And she yearns to be with this ‘lover’ in her life,” he explained. “But as with all stories, there's a conflict. Her RA is trying to get in [her door] and keep her from setting off the fire alarm because, I think everyone in dorms can agree, that the worst experience you can go through is a fire drill.”

Wyatt delved into the idea of love and connection for this film. "It's a story about true love prevailing. It’s a story about love is love,” he said. “I think it's a little kooky that she's in love with the fire alarm, but you  can put the fire alarm and make it anyone you want.” He used this mindset throughout the filming  process. “I told my actors, ‘Whenever you think about the fire alarm, who is your fire alarm? I want you to pick your person, and that's your fire alarm.’”

Wyatt emphasized the impact of his time in the Honors College and how it has influenced his creative process. "Being in the Honors College has surrounded me with driven and motivated individuals," he said. "I feel like there's not many of us in the Honors College that are also in film, so those of us that are in the Honors College and film we have a pretty close bond already. We went through living in Minton together and now we're in Southwest together."

Wyatt attributes much of his motivation and inspiration to the supportive environment of the Honors College. "Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is incredibly motivating," he said. He believes when you're surrounded by individuals who share your drive and passion, it pushes you to be better and strive for excellence. He also highlights the diversity of perspectives within the Honors College, which has enriched his filmmaking process. "People in the honors college have a certain drive and a certain push, and surrounding yourself with those people really motivates you a lot— even being around people that weren't in the film program,” he said.

One notable aspect of Mick's film is its connection to the Honors College itself. "My producer, we're both in the HCIC. It was shot in the Honors College dorm, Southwest. So it was pretty cool that they were able to do that for us." Reflecting on his collaborative efforts with his producer, Wyatt emphasizes the significance of their shared experience in the Honors College. "It's pretty cool that we, as Honors College students, were able to collaborate on this project," he said. "But just saying that it was a Honors College director-producer duo, it was cool that we both did that,” he said.

As Wyatt Mick continues his journey through the Honors College and the world of filmmaking, it's evident that his experiences have not only shaped his artistic vision but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration that will propel him toward future successes. With his unique perspective and unwavering passion, Wyatt Mick is destined to make a lasting impact in the world of cinema, all while carrying the spirit of the Honors College with him every step of the way.

You can catch “It’s Getting Hot in Here” at the WKU Film Festival on Thursday, April 25 at 6pm.