Dr. Malcolm Rector, University of St. Thomas associate professor of music, wrote the music and lyrics, edited, produced and directed the music video, “X-Man,” which has been selected by the Toronto Independent Film Festival. The music video was screened on Sept. 13.

 “X-Man” is the story of an American soldier at war in Iraq. The video focuses on the difficulties faced by soldiers who are engaged in war and the ways they are perceived in and out of the media. Rector talked with several soldiers, by Internet, stationed in Iraq. They supplied him with video footage that he incorporated into the music video.

“X-man” has been featured in several other film festivals including Worldfest – Houston International Film Festival where it won the Silver Remi Award. It will be featured in the upcoming New York City Independent Film Festival, where it will be screened on Oct. 19. Rector said he always has fun submitting to film festivals and continues to submit other projects to film festivals across the country.

“I started entering festivals in 1997 and won my first award in 1999,” Rector said. “You just keep submitting and sometimes they are picked up and sometimes they aren’t. It’s a crazy dice roll.”

Rector, a UST alumnus, teaches music theory, aural skills, counterpoint and directs both the jazz and rock ensembles. He is noted for his patience with students, often taking the time to present the information in novel ways that students find easier to grasp.

For more information on Rector’s videos and music, visit his website.