Julia Dillon-Davis has always wanted to make movies. She just never knew where to start.

But now that she’s working as a producer on the set of Freshman’s Wharf, she feels like she’s been given the opportunity to pursue her ambition.

“I’m a writer first and foremost. It’s easier to sit up in your room and write a screenplay. It’s something totally different to be on a film set,” she said.

The third episode of the web series, “The Midnight Flautist,” went live online last week. The fourth episode, “Partay” is scheduled for release next week. Six more episodes are in the works, and should be completed by June this year.

The project, begun by UVic writing professor Maureen Bradley, is teaching students the ropes of the film industry.

Written by student Rachel Warden, the series follows the misadventures of Shame Herbison, a UVic student spending a semester living on a houseboat.

“It’s got a real Michael Cera factor,” said publicist Bryce Bladon.

The students just secured funding for the remaining episodes through Alumni Services.

“It’s crazy that on the day arts funding is being cut across the province, we can say we have funding,” said James Roxby, the current editor-in-chief of This Side of West.

Roxby began helping out with the project during the filming of the third and fourth episodes.

The project has given students the chance to try a variety of positions.

They have volunteered their time as boom mic operators, wardrobe designers, extras, grips, web designers, producers, writers and extras.

“This has been a real confidence booster for all of us,” said Megan Russell, who worked on set as a lighting technician.

She recently used the skills acquired on set to film the award-winning music video for local band The Landronauts’ single, “Come Clean.”

“We feel completely safe to make mistakes,” said Dillon-Davis. “We’re there to support each other.”

Dillon-Davis said that Bradley’s influence on them has been tremendous.

“You can just feel her presence on set. She really started something,” Dillon-Davis said. “She’s one of those few professors who really gets involved with their students. She’s a role model.”

Bradley directed the first two episodes. Graduate student Daniel Hogg has worked as the director of photography. Local filmmaker Jeremy Lutter directed the third and fourth episode. Ana de Lara has signed on for the next two.

The project has also attracted local acting talent, with film veterans Bill Christie and Peter McGuire performing small roles.

Bladon said the production quality rivals anything made in Canada, and the project is a great calling card for the students. They can add it to their resumes and portfolios.

To date, each episode has been viewed approximately 1,100 times on Youtube.

The students hope to bump that number closer to 2,500. They now have fans worldwide.

“It really hits that university core, niche market,” said Roxby.

The episodes have been screened at Logan’s Pub in the past, and at the editor’s reading for This Side of West last year.

Dillon-Davis hopes to have a “monster screening” when the project is completed.

Check out writersroom.ca to learn more about the project, or search “Freshman’s Wharf” on Youtube.