BOUND by much Public Screening

Carter Van Erp, School of Music, Theatre & Dance

Collaborators: Hannah Boike, CoE/SMTD; Lila Hudgins, LSA; Kali Hightower, SMTD/Ross; Nick Aiello, SMTD; Coltrane Gilman, SMTD; Dorka Fetter, SMTD; Vera Alonzo, SMTD

BOUND by much, an original performance-turned-film, is premiering at The Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor. This project — built from anonymously submitted monologues, music, poetry, and dance — gives voice to unspoken narratives within the University of Michigan community, exploring identity, difference, and social justice. More than a performance, BOUND by much is an interdisciplinary storytelling initiative, blending film, theatre, music, and movement to create space for reflection, connection, and dialogue.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & ArtsEngine’s Impact

This project would not exist without ArtsEngine. Both my collaborator Hannah Boike and I are alumni of the Living ArtsEngine program, where we first learned how interdisciplinary collaboration fuels creativity and impact. It was because of this foundation that I reached out to the Duderstadt Center’s media team to film this project — leveraging the resources and relationships I built through Living ArtsEngine to bring BOUND by much to life. Now, we can take the next step: sharing this work with the broader Ann Arbor community through a professional public premiere.

Interdisciplinary projects require navigating creative differences while ensuring each discipline enhances the project’s cohesion and impact. My experience in Living ArtsEngine has prepared me to lead such a process effectively, balancing multiple perspectives into a unified vision.

Professional Growth & Community Impact

As a producer and director, this project has been a transformative experience, allowing me to integrate multiple disciplines while developing essential professional skills in:

• Event planning, including budgeting, logistics, and audience engagement.
• Film distribution, expanding my understanding of professional exhibition.
• Marketing and outreach, ensuring broad accessibility and engagement.
• Facilitating socially engaged discussions, as the premiere will include a post-screening talkback to spark critical conversations.

The event will feature guest speakers in theatre for social change and justice work, ensuring the discussion extends beyond the screen. Additionally, producing this event fulfills course requirements for my Race & Ethnicity course in the Performing Arts Technology department, merging academic inquiry with creative practice.

Project Execution

An internal screening on February 8th will allow the creative team to gather feedback before finalizing the film’s post-production elements. In the spring semester, we will focus on venue coordination, audience outreach, and securing panelists for the talkback. The public premiere at The Michigan Theatre will take place before the end of the academic year. The SMTD Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion has funded the film’s production and internal screening, bringing this project from concept to reality.

Conclusion

This project is entirely student-led, a testament to ArtsEngine’s impact in empowering young artists to create, collaborate, and lead. With your support, we can expand this student initiative into a community-centered, interdisciplinary arts event with lasting impact.