Full Sail Stories

Full Sail University graduates Angel Quinapallo and Kylie Shouse have been named winners in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program, earning top honors in this year’s nationwide competition. Written and directed by Angel and produced by Kylie, the team’s film rose to the top of a nationwide pool of finalists, marking a major achievement for the collaborators and their crew.

Their film, Behind the Screens, celebrates the evolution of cinema through the lens of Americana, imagining a hidden world behind the movie screen where the history of film lives on to continuously bring the magic of the movies to life.

The project was ambitious in scope – featuring a custom-built T-Rex tail, dozens of costumed characters spanning film history, and a large student crew – and was brought to life through a highly collaborative production process.

“This script just crackles with energy and captures the creativity and controlled chaos that happens behind the scenes when creating movie magic,” says Kylie. “It mirrors all the work that we as student filmmakers experience to create these 60 seconds of branded content.”

A semi-finalist in last year’s competition, Angel showed persistence and growth in this round, having submitted nine fully developed scripts – complete with animatics – before landing on Behind the Screens.

Filming took place in Full Sail’s Studio V1, utilizing virtual production capabilities, along with scenes shot at Cinemark Orlando and XD through the program’s theater partnership.

Between April 20 and May 10, fans can continue to support the film by participating in Cinemark Fan Favorite voting leading up to the final awards. The finalists associated with that film will receive a cash prize, distribution at Cinemark theaters, and a trip to Cinemark Headquarters in Dallas, Texas, for an immersive, VIP experience.

Full Sail will host on-campus screenings of the finalist films on May 2, offering the student crews and the Full Sail campus an opportunity to see the film on the big screen and connect with the creators behind it.

Head to Coca Cola Refreshing Films to learn more about the program and watch this year’s finalist films.