Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts celebrated the opening of its newly acquired movie theater with a special screening of “It Ends,” a feature created with support from the college and the help of students.
The screening marked the first official use of the new space and included a Q&A session with the film’s creators — writer-director Alex Ullom and producers Carrie Carusone and Evan Barber, all graduates of the film school’s Class of 2020.
“Watching our alumni return to the place where their creative partnerships began and seeing them work alongside and mentor the next generation is a reminder of how transformative the filmmaking process can be,” said Dean Reb Braddock.
Produced in association with Torchlight Studios, “It Ends” was filmed using Torchlight’s Virtual Production Stage and alumni equipment package. The LED volume screen allowed the team to shoot realistic vehicle scenes on a soundstage, avoiding the cost and complexity of on-location filming.
“The FSU film family runs deep,” Ullom said. “I was so grateful to be able to come back and help mentor the current students the same way FSU alumni in Los Angeles have helped me on this whirlwind of an experience. This film could not have happened without the support of the college and Tallahassee community. I’m so grateful for the reactions to the film.”
The film premiered at South by Southwest in March and holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“This was a full-circle moment for us,” Barber said. “We started this journey at FSU, and to be back here screening our first feature in the new facility —it’s hard to put into words.”
The production team encountered several challenges during the setup. A particularly significant example was their decision to modify a vehicle in order to address the venue’s logistical requirements.
“We convinced Dean Braddock to let us cut a Jeep in half to fit it through the hallway to the stage,” Carusone said. “It was a wild idea, but it worked with just half an inch to spare.”
The crew featured alumni from the Classes of 2020 and 2021, along with current students such as Julio Aceituno and Sean Denney, both BFA Class of 2026.
“They brought us in like family,” Denney said. “Even though we weren’t in the program yet, they treated us like peers. It was a tight-knit group, and we learned so much.”
The filmmakers said the film school’s structure and support helped create lasting relationships built on collaboration.
“The film school has a reputation for students who are incredibly skilled, full of hard workers who are communicative and collaborative,” Barber said. “FSU has some special secret sauce that fosters that. I don’t know any other film program in the country that supports alumni as much as FSU does.”
Braddock said the screening reflects the college’s mission to build lifelong creative partnerships.
“This is exactly what we hope for — that our students leave here not only with skills, but with a community they can build with,” he said. “Seeing Alex, Carrie and Evan return to share their work with the next generation is a testament to the strength of that community.”
The team’s production company, Growing Up Dead Films, continues to develop new projects.
“It Ends” will screen again for the public at the Tallahassee Film Festival on Friday, Sept. 26, at the Challenger Center, followed by a Q&A with Barber and actor Mitchell Cole.
For more information, visit film.fsu.edu.