“No Reception” Premieres at the Ritz Theater
The family comedy was produced by students, faculty, and industry professionals as the second project in JPCatholic’s Feature Film Program
September 10, 2024 | Escondido, CA
On August 28th, John Paul the Great Catholic University premiered No Reception at the Ritz Theater in Escondido. The family comedy is the second project in JPCatholic’s Feature Film Program, an initiative the University launched in 2021 to integrate feature film productions into the curriculum.
“This program provides the opportunity that every film student is seeking; a chance to collaborate with amazing artists on full-length feature films,” said Prof. George Simon, who spearheaded the curriculum. “Our students brought creativity and passion to set everyday and provided an amazing witness to their faith by their joy, professionalism, and love for one another.”
No Reception originated from students Mark Westin ‘23 and Natalia Roberts ‘23; Westin pitched their story concept at the first Feature Film Pitch Night in October 2021. While O, Brawling Love! was selected to be the inaugural project, No Reception was later greenlit in January of 2023 as the second venture. Directed by Prof. Christopher Riley, production took place over several weeks in summer 2023 in Escondido and surrounding area; over 40 JPCatholic students were involved in the production both on and off set.
The comedy centers on germaphobe Cody Mullen (Alex Campbell), a San Francisco businessman who grew up in the foster care system. Upon the death of his estranged father and the potential for a huge inheritance, he embarks on the journey home to his family’s vast mountain property. When his car breaks down in the wilderness, he is caught up in a feud between two eccentric hermits who give him a new outlook on family.
“No Reception is ridiculous fun,” said Riley. “And it's meaty. It's about things that really matter within our families. I've taken to calling it a family revenge comedy. The production represents a wildly ambitious collaboration between students, faculty, and other industry professionals. Making a feature film is a massively complex project and our students rose to the challenge in every department.”
Through the Feature Film Program, the University produces and distributes a feature film on a regular cycle, with the various stages of production built into the curriculum as electives. Students brought No Reception to the screen through courses such as story development, pre-production, set building, and editing, with seniors taking on significant leadership roles such as director of photography, assistant director, and production designer.
Student Angelika Sowa was director of photography on No Reception
“Working on No Reception was a great opportunity to test my skills in a big setting, and challenge myself to grow as a cinematographer,” said Angelika Sowa ‘23, director of photography. “This experience not only prepared me to work on professional sets but also helped me learn the complexity and art of leadership and project management, which I’m able to apply in every aspect of my life and career.”
Timothy Battle ‘24 was one of JPCatholic’s acting students cast in the film. “Working with Professor Riley was a wonderful experience, and I was able to get a sense of what it’s like working on a project with such a big scope,” he said. “I’m incredibly proud of my classmates who made this film possible.”
Beyond giving students hands-on experience and IMDb credits, the program is also designed with distribution in mind, aligning with the University’s mission to impact audiences through wholesome entertainment. O, Brawling Love! is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and No Reception is expected to be widely distributed in Q1 2025.
JPCatholic is already involved in pre-production on a third film, Pickle for Pickleball. With a story from Anna Engel ‘24, the sports comedy will shoot in June 2025. A proof of concept trailer was filmed this summer and screened before the premiere of No Reception.
Learn more about the Feature Film Program and the three projects here.
About JPCatholic:
John Paul the Great Catholic University is “the Catholic University for Creative Arts and Business Innovation,” focusing on combining hands-on programs such as film, animation, design, music, acting, fashion, and business entrepreneurship with a Catholic liberal arts education in theology, philosophy, and humanities. Launched in 2006 in the Scripps Ranch community of San Diego, JPCatholic relocated to a permanent campus in downtown Escondido in 2013 and has been accredited with WSCUC since 2015. JPCatholic operates on a year-round quarter system, with students earning a bachelor's degree in just three years.