2023 Tensie Awards

Every Spring semester, students can enter their projects in the Tensies Awards, which is the KU Film & Media Studies version of the Oscars. Winners receive Tensie trophies in various categories such as Best Director, Best Drama, Best Cinematography, and more.

Best Animation Project/Best Music Video

Skinny Love's Rage

A portrait of the expectations and realities, beauties and pains of love.

Director - Toni Hopkins
Editor - Toni Hopkins
Screenwriter - Toni Hopkins
Cinematographer - Toni Hopkins
Sound - Toni Hopkins
Visual Effects - Toni Hopkins

Produced for FMS 374 Animation, Instructor David Mai, Fall 2022

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Animation, Best Music Video

Best Comedy

Last Call at the Green Olive Café (work in progress)

After a customer's mysterious death, it's up to a kitchen crew to discover the culprit.

Director - Joe DeMarchi
Editor - Joe DeMarchi
Screenwriter - Joe DeMarchi
Cinematographer - Joe DeMarchi
Sound - Casey Watson, Joe DeMarchi
Visual Effects - Joe DeMarchi

Produced for FMS 498 Honors Seminar, Instructor Bob Hurst, Spring 2023

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Comedy

Best Director

I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby! (work in progress)

During a 21st bday party, two female friends attempt to clarify their relationship, but a kiss complicates it.

Director - Allison Uhlenhop
Editor - Carter Wilch
Screenwriter - Allison Uhlenhop
Cinematographer - Carter Wilch
Sound - Sophia Dominguez

Produced for FMS 585 Capstone, Instructor Hispano Durón, Spring 2023

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Director
2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Drama, Best Screenplay

Best Documentary

America's Trumpet

Son of Rufus Harley, America Patton, on his Jazz work to help restore Quindaro.

Main Director - Brandon Luck
Co-Director - Backer Hamada
Editor - Backer Hamada
Cinematographer - Brandon Luck, Aidan Thomason
Sound - Backer Hamada, Brandon Luck
Visual Effects - Backer Hamada

Produced for FMS 303 Undergraduate Production Seminar, Instructor Bob Hurst, Fall 2022

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Documentary

Best Documentary

Money In Shoes

Bruce Barlow is a leathersmith based in Lawrence for over 30 years.

Director - Cash Erikson
Editor - Cash Erikson
Cinematographer - Cash Erikson
Sound - Zahra Ghazii, Jamison Sattler

Produced for FMS 275 Basic Video Production, Instructor Matt Jacobson, Fall 2022

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Documentary
2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Cinematography 

Best Drama

The Urge

A boy steals a Super 8 camera box and finds documentation of a man turning into a vampire.

Director - Evan Bridges
Editor - Evan Bridges
Screenwriter - Evan Bridges
Cinematographer - Joe Euston
Sound - Evan Bridges (Design & Editing) & Carter Trout (Onsite)
Visual Effects - Evan Bridges

Produced for FMS 375 Intermediate Video Production, Instructor Matt Jacobson, Spring 2023

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Drama
2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Visual Effects

Best of Show/Best Experimental Project

Victoria

Victoria prepares for a date, but will her obsessiveness fail her when things go south?

Director - Audrey Merckling
Editor - Toni Hopkins
Screenwriter - Toni Hopkins, Audrey Merckling 
Cinematographer - Allison Ruschill
Sound - Hannah Davis

Produced for FMS 275 Basic Video Production, Instructor Bob Hurst, Spring 2023

2023 Tensie Winner: Best of Show, Best Experimental
2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Cinematography, Best Director

Best Screenplay

Bedside Manner

A young man and woman share a moment of vulnerability as they confront the turmoil of their lives.

Director - Emma Steenhard
Editor - Allison Ruschill
Screenwriter - Emma Steenhard
Cinematographer - Allison Ruschill 
Sound - Ellis Conover, Noah Hammrick

Produced for KU Screenwriters, Instructor Jon Niccum, Fall 2022

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Screenplay

Best Sound

The Red Trail

A hunter is haunted by the spirit of the man he left for dead.

Director - Tanner Ashenfelter
Editor - Tanner Ashenfelter
Screenwriter - Tanner Ashenfelter
Cinematographer - Sierra Ashenfelter
Sound - Tanner Ashenfelter, Cash Erikson
Visual Effects - Tanner Ashenfelter
Produced for FMS 375 Intermediate Video Production, Instructor Matt Jacobson, Fall 2022

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Sound
2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Editing

Best Visual Effects

Lasagna

Lasagna is a recipe video detailing how to make your very own 3 layer lasagna.

Director - Joe DeMarchi
Assistant Director - Allison Uhlenhop
Editor - Adler Moss
Screenwriter - Joe DeMarchi
Cinematographer - Joe DeMarchi
Sound - Adler Moss, Casey Watson
Visual Effects - Adler Moss

Produced for FMS 498 Honors Seminar, Instructor David Mai, Fall 2022

2023 Tensie Winner: Best Visual Effects
2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Comedy, Best Director, Best Drama, Best Editing,  Best Experimental, Best Sound

Bonus Info

The Tensie awards are named for the late Hortense “Tensie” Casady Oldfather, a celebrated local philanthropist whose many contributions to KU and the community include Oldfather Studios, the former home of KU Film & Media Studies.