ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio University School of Film announces the thesis screening of MFA student Jason Balas on Friday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m. The event is open to the public and will be held in Mitchell Auditorium, located on the first floor of Seigfred Hall. The screening will feature several of Balas' works, including his thesis film "Cuatro." He will also screen his music video, "ComeAlive," which he shot and edited for local rock band Pasquali. This public screening of Balas' film projects is produced in partial completion of his graduate degree in film production.

Since Balas entered the film program in 1998, he has produced several projects. His first-year film, "Corn Bred," screened at the Athens International Film and Video Festival and received an honorable mention at OU Stuff 2000. It has also been named an Official Selection at the 2002 Hollywood Underground Film Festival.

"Cuatro," the apocalyptic tale of four horsemen at the edge of civilization, explores the effects of revenge on the human (and supernatural) psyche. The short film, which was shot on a ranch in north central New Mexico, screened at the Santa Fe Film Festival in early December 2001.

Balas received his bachelor's degree in telecommunications in 1997 from Eastern New Mexico University, where he was active in television and theater. While at ENMU, he shot and directed a thirty minute documentary exploring the Long Walk of the Navajo which aired on regional PBS. He also worked two summers in the outdoor theatre production "Texas" as an actor before coming to Athens in 1998.

Like many Ohio University film graduates, Balas plans to pursue a career in film production in Los Angeles.