More than 300 students are enjoying a holiday dinner this week compliments of several UWindsor offices.

Spearheaded by Sandra Riccio-Muglia, director of programming for the Student Centre, the Holiday Celebration Dinner provided a meal prepared by the Meal Prep Company for pick-up from the Green Bean Café, Dec. 21 to 23.

In addition to their choice of dinner sponsored by the Office of the President, halal chicken or vegan pastry, the students are also receiving a holiday cookie courtesy of the International Student Centre, and a cup of hot chocolate from the Office of Student Experience.

“Students have been on the minds of many staff as we are normally packed with celebrations of free food events on campus this time of year to help them through exam season and the holidays,” said Riccio-Muglia. “The interest in this program has been heartfelt and overwhelming. I am very grateful to our campus partners for all their generosity to be able to make this happen without limitations. Whoever needed a meal received a meal.”

Besides orders from 325 students in just four days, she says she received unsolicited offers to donate from UWindsor employees.

“They really felt the need to do something this holiday,” Riccio-Muglia says. “Many of us are feeling that social disconnect from students and want let them know we truly do care about them.”

She invites students to follow her programming on Facebook and share photos of their holiday meals on the University’s social media channels.

Small budgets can act as constraints on independent filmmaking, says communications professor Mike Stasko, but creatively assessing how to make the most of what you have is where opportunities begin.

He outlines four meaningful ways to embrace small budgets in an article published Monday in the Conversation, which shares news and views from the academic and research community.

Prof. Stasko cites his experiences as writer and director of his fifth feature, the comedy Boys Vs. Girls, to offer these lessons:

1. Think globally, act locally

We’ve heard this as it applies to environmental and social justice causes, but with advances in digital technology, indie filmmaking has benefited too.

I shoot most of my projects in my hometown of Windsor, and this has provided me with numerous economic and production advantages. Renting out all locations — hotel rooms, production offices and cast trailers — would normally eat the lion’s share of a budget. But on Boys vs. Girls, we rented an off-season summer camp that acted as all three for a fraction of the price.

2. Engage enthusiasm

On all my film sets, regardless if some people are being paid big bucks, small bucks, doing an internship or volunteering, I keep track of everyone’s total hours. On the Boys vs. Girls set, that included 30 film students enrolled at the University of Windsor.

My approach is to divide everyone’s hours by the group’s final total and give everyone “ownership” in the film. This means you could have been the production assistant and walked away with a certificate that entitles you to a share of the producer’s net equity.

3. Spend money on morale

This can pay dividends in getting a few recognizable actors on the set for cameo roles. For Boys vs. Girls, I was able to secure the comedic talents of Colin Mochrie to play the camp director, Roger, and Kevin McDonald to play the camp caretaker, Coffee.

As soon as these comedy icons showed up, the rest of the cast and crew immediately felt the rush of “this is the real deal” and everyone’s game stepped up.

4. Throw time at your story

Concede early on to the fact that you won’t be able to compete with mainstream Hollywood productions when it comes to production values like special effects or star power.

But here’s the good news: 15 years into my filmmaking career, I can assure you that story is by far the most important element to filmmaking, and it just happens to be the one thing you can compete with.

Read the entire piece, “4 ways independent filmmakers can make the most of small budgets for big results,” in the Conversation.

Stasko’s battle-of-the-sexes comedy about the first summer a camp goes co-ed, Boys Vs. Girls will receive release on digital video disc and video-on-demand Dec. 22. Find details on where the film will be available by visiting www.boysvgirlsmovie.ca.

DailyNews is pleased to offer readers a diversion in the form of a few trivia questions to ponder as the holiday break approaches.

1. How old was Brenda Lee when she recorded the popular holiday song Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree?
2. Who resigned as president of the USSR on Dec. 25, 1991?
3. What five words complete the line of this lyric: Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear…?
4. What is the name of the character played by James Stewart in the uplifting film classic It’s a Wonderful Life?
5. Which team won the 2020 Rose Bowl?
6. Vaccinium oxycoccus and Vaccinium macrocarpon are evergreens commonly known by what shared name?
7. Which U.S. state was home to German settlers who brought the tradition of the Christmas tree to North America?
8. Which Canadian prime minister was born on Christmas Day?
9. Alan Rickman made his Hollywood debut as villain Hans Gruber in which action film set at Christmas time?
10. Which 2003 Will Ferrell vehicle borrowed costume designs from the animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Answers here.

Do you know an educator worthy of recognition? The University of Windsor Alumni Association is currently accepting nominations for the Alumni Award for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching, which honours excellence in this field.

Full-time members of the teaching faculty, with a minimum of five consecutive years teaching at the University of Windsor, are eligible. Click here for the award criteria, intent to nominate form, and submission deadlines.

For more information or assistance, contact Katherine Simon in Alumni Relations at kasimon@uwindsor.ca or phone 519-971-3618, ext. 4052.

The holidays are often a joyous time, but they can prompt stress as well. This year, many will be grappling with the unique pressures that arise when celebrating during a global pandemic.

The December 2020 edition of Workplace Wellness E-Digest, published by the Department of Human Resources’ Office of Employee Engagement and Development, provides tips to help manage emotional well-being.

The newsletter also offers suggestions for small-scale dining and information on Seasonal Affective Disorder. Read the Workplace Wellness E-Digest.