There are small dreams we keep deep in our minds that do not necessarily play out. As films have become a beloved culture for a lot of people, there is raised interest in the film industry as well. In Korea University (KU), there is a club for those who dream of making films of their own that can help achieve these long-cherished aspirations. Dol-bit is a film club where people share their best-loved movies and, most importantly, create movies from beginning to end. To better understand Dol-bit’s passion towards the film industry as a whole, *The Granite Tower* (GT) interviewed the president of Dol-bit, Kim Donguk (16’, Chinese Language and Literature), members of Dol-bit Kang, Ui Seok (’16, School of Media & Communication) and Lee, Jong Kwang (’14, English Language and Literature).

GT: What is the meaning of the club name, Dol-bit?

Kim: The name of our club is the combination of *Dol* from the Chinese character meaning “stone” and *bit*, which means “light” in Korean, to form the notion that movies are the art of light. Since Dol-bit was formed in 1983, this story about the origin of the name is uncertain.

GT: What are some of the big and small activities done in Dol-bit?

Kim: The climax of the activities carried out in Dol-bit is the actual production of a film during the summer and winter vacations. At the end of every semester, we pick one scenario out of a number of various scenarios written by our club members. During the semester, we organize study groups where we get together and learn shooting techniques and scenarios that can help us produce a high-quality film during the holidays. We used to produce some small videos, but now, because of the COVID-19 situation, we have put that on hold.

GT: Can you describe the overall process of film production?

Lee: It depends on whether the film is a full-length film or a short film. In the case of full-length films, the process of production varies a lot depending on whether it is a commercial film or an independent film. Even for short films, the process differs between when an individual makes one and when certain organizations or universities make one. In general, however, when the scenario is decided, there are preparatory processes such as arranging staff, establishing continuities, location hunting, budget appropriation, casting, and rehearsal. Then comes the production stage where the filming is done. After the shoot, there is a post-production stage, which consists of editing, sound-mixing, color compensation, and music insertion.

GT: In general, are the club members aiming for a career in the film industry?

Kim: It is true that, traditionally and academically speaking, art does not have a strong presence in Korea University. Thus, there are members in our club that pursue some artistic activities that cannot be fulfilled through usual university life. There are members who seriously aim for becoming film directors or entering the film industry as well.

Lee: I heard that there are people who actually debuted with a long-length film and people who work in the industry. There are also people who work in web drama productions, though not films. However, overall, a lot of people join this club because they love movies and are curious about how the actual production process goes.

GT: What themes or problems do you tend to handle in your films? Are there any specific intentions or motives behind your films?

Kim: The theme or intention of a movie completely depends on the director. Personally, I think that films are a means of expression, so there are no limitations in the stories that films tell us. Scenarios written by different members of our club vary a lot as well. However, since we make films under limited resources, it is hard to expect a blockbuster like *The Avengers* (2012). There are no limitations in themes or intentions, but there certainly exist some restrictions caused by the production cost.

Lee: Expressions in films are infinite — in form (a film play, documentary film, animation film, etc.) and in content. There are people who produce films only for the sake of entertaining an audience, and there are people who focus on expressing their own thoughts through their movies.

GT: Dol-bit uploads the films produced to an official YouTube channel. Which production would you like to recommend the most?

Lee: Personally, I think *Negative* (2016) is the best in terms of tone and quality.

Kang: I recommend *Lucky day*(2018). This is a production filmed last semester by group one, which I think is great to enjoy lightly. Also, you can feel in the movie the little struggles that the members might have gone through while filming the movie.

GT: What kind of people would Dol-bit appeal to?

Kim: There are no conditions to join our club. However, in order to gain something through our club activities, it is crucial to have interests, concerns, or, generally speaking, passion. If there is a certain story you want to express and you are interested in the way of expressing your story, then I think you can feel a great sense of accomplishment through our club activities.

Kang: Dol-bit is a club that anyone who loves movies can join. This club differentiates itself in that it actually produces films. However, that does not necessarily mean that Dol-bit is focused on the production itself. Dol-bit deals with the film industry as a whole — we talk about our favorite movies and share our thoughts. If you have an affection towards films, I recommend you knock on the door of Dol-bit.

Lee: Producing a film changes your view on films. Of course, it is best if you are interested in writing your own stories and turning it into videos, or if you are curious about the overall process of film production. Dol-bit is a great club to check your level of interest in movie production. It is true that the production process in our club is at a basic level and the things we learn within this club are quite minor, but if you are thinking about heading to a related industry, you can figure out what your thing is and what you should learn more deeply.