Evan sits on Academic Dean Roger Schutter's lap in Episode 2 of the Compass Year End Giving Special

Always willing to try something new, Compass Film Academy is creating a weekly web-series to air in conjunction with their year-end giving campaign.

The four-part series (possibly five) parodies life in and around the Academy during the final month of fundraising, and was written specifically for the alumni.

“The impetus for the whole thing was really the $100,000 matching grant,” said series creator and Industry Relations Specialist, Evan Koons. In October, an anonymous donor approached Compass and offered to match any gift up to $100,000 by January 1st, 2010.

To help inspire alumni to give, and at the suggestion of Director of Finance and Admission Jill Postma, Evan pledged to shave his head if the alumni would donate upwards of $6,000. President Keri Lowe then asked Koons to make videos that would help increase awareness.

“At first, I didn’t want to do it,” Koons admitted, “For obvious reasons. But then I realized I could come to work and get paid to write and produce short films…which is awesome. I seriously think I have the greatest job in the world.”

So far the videos have helped raise $1910 of the $6000 needed to shave Evan’s head. And news is spreading. A church from Texas called the school looking to have similar videos produced for their congregation.

With two weeks left in the fund raising season, it’s anyone’s guess whether or not Alumni giving will top $6000.

“To be honest, I kinda hope we do get the $6000 from the alumni. It’ll make for a good adventure, and a story to tell. That’s for sure,” said Koons. “Hopefully it would mean people are also watching and enjoying our films.”

Nearly every staff and faculty member at Compass has been involved in some aspect of the web-series production.

“It’s really surprising how much everyone is getting into this, or at least being gracious enough to let me exploit them.”

The scripts pull no punches. Evan himself plays a double-talking “yes” man, Screenwriting and Producing instructor Cort Langeland portrays a right-wing fundamentalist preparing for the coming apocalypse, and Keri–the President of Compass–is a murderous lunatic.

“I have no idea how on earth I was allowed to make these. I love my job!” Koons said and smiled as he returned to editing Episode 4: The Moment of Truth, set to launch the last week of December.

To support Compass Film Academy and the $100,000 Matching Grant, feel free to call 616.458.4238. You can also give online by going to www.compassfilmacademy.com/community/support or by clicking the ‘Giving’ tab above. You can also give $10 instantly by texting the word COMPASS to 20222. The charge will be added to your next cell phone bill. This service comes from the groundbreaking company GiveByCell.

Watch the Videos.

CFA Year End Giving Special - Episode 1: The Good News from Compass Film Academy on Vimeo.

CFA Year End Giving Special - Episode 2: The 3 Things from Compass Film Academy on Vimeo.

The CFA Year End Giving Special - Episode 3: The High Cost of Insurance from Compass Film Academy on Vimeo.