3 Lose Class Credit : College’s Order Won’t Stop Work on Student Video

Production of a video written and directed by a Glendale College student will continue despite an order by the college that it be halted, its producer said Tuesday.

College President John A. Davitt ordered the production stopped Monday after an actress and her boyfriend complained about scenes depicting nudity and violence. Part of the video, which began as a project for an advanced television class at the college, was taped on the college’s campus using college equipment.

Travis Shepherd, a professional in video production, said the crew and cast plan to finish the 45-minute video called “The Janitor’s Mess,” which he described as “a clean, little comedy horror.”

But the video will be completed without the college’s equipment. And the students involved will not receive credit from the college for the project, Davitt said.

James I. Nicholson III, who is directing the video and wrote its script, and two other Glendale College students working on the production returned the college’s equipment Tuesday, Davitt said.

Volunteer Basis

Shepherd, who is producing the video on a volunteer basis, said about 40 people are involved in the production, including students from other colleges and a few professionals.

“These kids have worked too hard, too long and dedicated too much of their money to quit now,” Shepherd said.

He said the students raised about $2,000 for eight days of taping.

Shepherd said he obtained other video equipment Tuesday and plans to complete the taping at a private residence on Harvard Street in the West Adams area of Los Angeles by Friday.

He said he expects the video to be distributed within three months.

Lois Livingstone of Studio City and Jim Morris of Canyon Country complained to college officials that they were offended by scenes depicting nudity, various sex acts and mutilation. Livingstone played a role in the film for two days before she quit.

Michael Petros, instructor of the advanced TV class at Glendale College, said he approved a script for the video about five weeks ago. However, Petros said the script was altered significantly without his knowledge.

Davitt said he read the script Tuesday and found “some sequences in there that would not be suitable for a production associated with the college.” He said the three students will not get credit for the work “because we deem the project unacceptable.”

College officials said they will not seek to obtain the tape--which is owned by the producer--or to halt distribution.

Petros said the three students have been assigned to other class productions.

But Shepherd said he expects the students to complete their work on “The Janitor’s Mess.”

Taping was proceeding as scheduled late Tuesday, the producer said.

Nicholson, the writer-director, could not be reached for comment.