<body><div>Students at Ohio University are exploring their creativity through filmmaking. Rough Cut Collective is a student-led film club that provides an artistic outlet to students of all majors by turning their scripts into short films.One of the short films this fall is “The Patterson County Creature,” a comedy horror about a group of friends making a documentary faking a Bigfoot sighting, but encountering the actual Bigfoot in the process.Payne Williams, a sophomore studying chemical engineering, is the film’s writer and director. He first came up with the idea after visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where he was inspired by the Bigfoot culture.This is Williams’ second film he has directed through Rough Cut Collective. He made “Professional Killers” last spring, a comedy about assassins who realize they have all been hired to kill the same guy.“I just do it for the love of the game; I love Rough Cut,” Williams said. “The fact that I have the opportunity to do this is crazy. I love movies, and I am doing it because I love it.”The main filming for “The Patterson County Creature" was done last weekend at Central Classroom and The Ridges. They filmed for approximately 20 hours throughout the weekend. There are around 30 people involved in production, including some who are not always required on set.The budget for the movies comes from OU and is split between the short films. Equipment for the films comes from various places, including the Schoonover Center equipment room or local rental companies using money from the budget.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3XISNZ_1H0FGx0200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3XISNZ_1H0FGx0200" width="2000" height="1333" ><figcaption>John Fouss Film students discuss details of a film they are creating, Nov. 6, 2026, in the Central Classroom Building in Athens.</figcaption></figure>Allie Westbeld, a senior studying media arts production, is the film’s assistant director. She has been involved in Rough Cut Collective since her freshman year and is vice president on the executive board.Westbeld’s role on set is making sure they are on schedule and providing breaks when needed.“Being on set makes me realize that I've done the right major,” Westbeld said. “I love being an assistant director when people come up to me for questions and help, and I get to divide stuff up and take care of stuff and be like ‘everything's gonna be okay.’ It's a lot of fun; it really puts me in a good mood.”Oliver Koeth, a sophomore studying social work, is one of the actors in the short film's cast. Koeth said he is especially excited to see a scene shot from Bigfoot’s point of view while attacking one of the characters.“It's kind of different acting it out and then seeing how it turns out, because you have a preconceived notion,” Koeth said. “But it's interesting to see what the editors do, what the colorists do to have their own creative vision fulfilled.” Kyra Drescher, a senior studying integrated language arts, is another actor in the cast, and also acted in Williams’ short film last spring. Drescher said one of the best parts about working on set is getting to know people and seeing them do something they are passionate about.“You can tell how dedicated Payne and Allie are to what they do, and how much Payne truly loves everything that he writes, and how much thought and effort Allie puts into everything she does on set,” Drescher said. “Our light crew, our sound crew, everyone is passionate and extremely wonderful at what they do.”Ariana Millones, a sophomore studying media arts production, took behind-the-scenes videos during filming. Millones has also been involved in the art department through Rough Cut Collective, which handles props, set decoration, costumes and makeup. Millones said filming at The Ridges felt like a moment of quiet away from campus. “My job is not that involved in the movie; I was more of an outsider,” Millones said. “Some people were really stressed, but also I think once there were moments where we were eating where I could see everybody was bonding. It just felt really nice. It was like a field trip.”Now that filming is complete, the footage is in the hands of the editors to work on the color, sound and other aspects of the tape.The two other films Rough Cut Collective is making this semester are “The Bite,” a zombie horror with comedy elements and “The Suitors,” a medieval fantasy. Films through Rough Cut Collective are typically five to 10 minutes, and the club plans to show them at The Athena Cinema, located at 20 S. Court St., or Baker University Center, located at 1 Park Place, at the beginning of December. </div></body>

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Students at Ohio University are exploring their creativity through filmmaking. Rough Cut Collective is a student-led film club that provides an artistic outlet to students of all majors by turning their scripts into short films. One of the short films this fall is “The Patterson County Creature,” a comedy horror...

Student short film sets up comedic scare

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Students at Ohio University are exploring their creativity through filmmaking. Rough Cut Collective is a student-led film club that provides an artistic ou

Student short film sets up comedic scare

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