When she was in high school, Aiko Lozar was inspired to apply to Chapman University after seeing “Crunch Time,” a winning student film that was part of the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. Now a filmmaking senior at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, she may soon be inspiring other students to apply to Chapman.

Lozar, along with fellow Dodge senior Lexi Berganio, are finalists.in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program, which offers filmmaking students the chance to bring their artistic visions to the silver screen. Students write, direct, and produce a 50-second branded spot that could be screened in AMC and Cinemark theaters across the country.

“Ticket to Everywhere” has been chosen from more than 700 entries in the contest. Lozar, the director, and Berganio, the producer, have been applying to this program since their sophomore year, and each time, they were selected as semi-finalists. This dynamic duo has worked together on many projects, including numerous independent films, and are currently working on their thesis film together.

“Ticket to Everywhere” highlights movie magic and how their power transports viewers to different worlds, without ever leaving the comfort of one’s seat, and takes inspiration from the hit Disney Channel original film “High School Musical 2.”

“I was thinking about “High School Musical 2,” where they go on Summer Break,” Berganio says. “At the very beginning of the movie, they’re in the classroom and they’re chanting ‘Summer, Summer, Summer.’ But what do they do as soon as they get out of class? Obviously, they go to the movie theater.”

“Ticket to Everywhere“ was just one of their many ideas and submissions for the program.

“In prior years, we had submitted at least four or five different script ideas,” Berganio says, “but for this particular year, I think we submitted like nine or 10.”

The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program pushed Lozar and Berganio to step outside of their comfort zones.

“Our other ideas were really narrative, but this was the most commercial,” Lozar says, adding that “part of the Coca-Cola program is [uplifting] young filmmakers and getting them on set, especially a branded set. It’s this really rare, singular opportunity for students to get their work shown nationwide.”

Production for “Ticket to Everywhere“ would not be possible without help from sponsored partners, mentors, and Dodge College peers. The finalists were given a $20,000 budget to produce their branded short, use of a RED Production Company Komodo-X camera and post-production coloring services from Company 3. It was shot in the lobby of Dodge College’s Marion Knott Studios and AMC Orange 30 over three days; their set, both cast and crew, was comprised of mostly Chapman students.

Another fun perk of the program was being given the opportunity to fly to the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta to network with the other finalists and pitch their branded short to executives.

“We got feedback for our presentation which was awesome,” Lozar says.

“They were really happy with our pitch,” Berganio adds. “Chapman’s program prepared us for that pitch.”

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“Ticket to Everywhere“ will screen in Marion Knott Studios’ Folino Theater at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11. The winner of the Coca Cola Refreshing Films contest will be announced soon.

Top: Filmmakers Aiko Lozar, left, and Lexi Berganio