BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — It's winter break. Exams are over and done with. It's time to go home for the holidays - but aren't we forgetting something? Or someone? How about a pair of mischief-making falcons?
That's the premise of the Bowling Green State University short film "Freddie and Frieda Falcon are Home Alone!" which made its debut Wednesday.
A lot is packed into the film's 3 minute, 45 second runtime, which begins when BGSU President Rodney Rogers, University Advocate Dr. Sandra Earle and a flock of Falcons (the students, not the birds) rush out of the university in a tizzy: their flights home leave in just an hour.
They don't have far to go, though: they all plan to fit in a two-person aircraft departing, of course, from BGSU's own flight center.
But something is missing, isn't it?
"Something doesn't feel right," Rogers said in the short film, as he, Earle and the students wait in the aircraft hangar. "You know, I feel like we're missing the Falcon spirit."
And though he'd brought his orange neckties and remembered his Starbucks, some facet of the Falcon spirit was ultimately left behind. Who did they forget, but mascot siblings Freddie and Frieda Falcon?
The birds, if they're at all perturbed by the development, don't show it. In fact, they rather have their run of the place.
They jump on residence hall beds, fight over popcorn in the BGSU Film Theatre, indulge in an entire bowl of ice cream (at the expense of the poor machine, perhaps), and order just enough Campus Pollyeyes to sate even the most ravenous Falcon.
And of course, it wouldn't be a "Home Alone" parody if they didn't sled down the iconic steps of University Hall.
But all good things must come to an end. Rogers and Earle, realizing they can't leave without the iconic birds, careen back to campus in a golf cart.
Fortunately, no disaster awaits: Freddie and Frieda are awaiting their return, with a surprise to booth. They wrapped presents for each and every student.
You can watch the full short film, created by the university's award-winning Marketing Department, below:
