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TREE STUMP FILMS

Tree Stump Films provides students with real-world experience in the planning, production, and broadcast of a documentary film.

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ABOUT US

Tree Stump Films (TSF) is the documentary film production company within Rocky
Mountain Student Media Corporation.

TSF provides Colorado State University students with hands-on experience in
documentary filmmaking, walking them through every aspect of production- from
research to interviews and filming to editing. Our films are professionally composed for
broadcast on Rocky Mountain PBS, online distribution, and film festivals.


Motivated by impactful storytelling, TSF documentaries aspire to inspire, educate, and
spark conversation about historical and contemporary issues that shape the world. By
working in our real-world production environment, CSU students acquire valuable
experience while producing impactful films.

TREE STUMP FILM FEST

Hands-On Documentary Filmmaking, Open to All Majors
Tree Stump Films (TSF) gives CSU students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on
experience in filmmaking- no required courses or prerequisites. We operate like a
professional production company, where students unite disciplines to create high-quality
films.

OUR CONCEPT

Hands-On Documentary Filmmaking, Open to All Majors.

Tree Stump Films (TSF) gives CSU students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on
experience in filmmaking- no required courses or prerequisites. We operate like a
professional production company, where students unite disciplines to create high-quality
films.

ENHANCING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Because of prerequisites in the individual majors not all aspects of the classroom allow for different majors to access the overall skills that are required in documentary filmmaking. Tree Stump Films offers workshops that are not attempted to duplicate courses already offered at CSU.

WORKSHOPS

The RMSM Documentary Program will provide:

Workshops enhancing the education of students at CSU specific to documentary filmmaking.

  • Advanced Interview techniques for documentary film
  • Story Structure and character development 
  • Scriptwriting for documentaries
  • Lighting, sound and camera for documentary film
  • How to pitch a documentary film
  • Documentary film financing and fundraising
  • How to start, fund and operate a professional documentary film company

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Each semester CSU students can apply online through Handshake.

Students will be interviewed by the Student Director and the RMSM advisor. The application is open to any interested CSU student. Students that have watched documentary films and have an interest in how films are made get the opportunity to participate “from the inside”. 

Prior skills and passion in documentary filmmaking is highly encouraged.

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AWARDS

2021

Advocacy Award from 2021 Front Range Film Festival

Becoming Kaz Smith

Best Short Award from 2021 Front Range Film Festival

Reclamation

Official Selection from South Dakota Film Festival

Complexity of Life

Official Selection from Colorado Short Circuit Film Festival

Becoming Kaz Smith

Official Selection from South Dakota Film Festival

Becoming Kaz Smith

Screening at National Art Materials Convention in 2022

Reclamation

Official Selection from My Hero International Film Festival

DIY: Fort Collins

First Place Best non-Advertisement Multimedia Project from College Media Business and Advertising Managers

Becoming Kaz Smith

Official Showing at 2022 TEDxCSU

Reclamation

Official Selection First Place - Short Documentary from College Media Association

Becoming Kaz Smith

Finalist in My Hero International Film Festival 2022

Becoming Kaz Smith

Official Selection from Colorado Short Circuit Film Festival

Reclamation

Official Selection of Through Student Lens ACT Film Festival

Becoming Kaz Smith

Official Selection from 2021 Front Range Film Festival

DIY: Fort Collins

2022 Awards of Excellence from Colorado Broadcast Associations

DIY: Fort Collins

Official Selection from Chicago Southland Film Festival

Reclamation

Finalist College Documentary My Hero International Film Festival

Reclamation

Official Selection from South Dakota Film Festival

DIY: Fort Collins

THE TSF TEAM

The Tree Stump Films Team for 2024 - 2025

STUDENT LEADERS

Executive Director: Carolina Graves

Carolina is a junior in Journalism and Media Communications with a minor in business administration. She has worked as a production assistant at Boulder Media House in Denver, Colorado and ICÒNIC Films in Valencia, Spain. She has a passion for leadership and managing exciting productions. Carolina loves her role of being the executive director of Tree Stump Films and to be working with such an amazing crew to create extraordinary documentaries.

cgraves@treestumpfilms.com

Head of Production: Giovanna Paterno

Giovanna is a senior in natural resource management. Previously, she attended film school in Nashville where she often gaffed in student productions. She is passionate about producing stories in a creative perspective. She is excited to be working with TSF to push the boundaries of what documentary filmmaking can be.

giovanna.paterno@colostate.edu

ADVISOR

Frank Boring

Frank Boring was born in China and has traveled extensively pursuing a career in writing, theater and video. With an extensive career in Film, Frank Boring was most recently hired by Tony Frank to produce a documentary celebrating CSU’s 150 years. The Great Experiment, CSU at 150 was broadcast on Rocky Mountain PBS in October 2020.

frank.boring@colostate.edu

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