What did the student films of George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis look like? How did Stephen Sommers (The Mummy) and Shawn Levy (A Night at the Museum) impress producers so they could get a break into Hollywood? The answer to these and other questions can be found in this compilation of college projects by a diverse array of contemporary moviemakers, including the aforementioned names. Also included are Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure), Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld) and James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross). Most of the entries are fascinating in light of the directors’ later work. Zemeckis’ 1975 Student Academy Award-winner Field of Honor showcases his dark humor in its tale of a Vietnam vet trying to get across town in a hazard-filled bus, and Lucas’ Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB lays the blueprint for his 1971 feature THX 1138. The accent is on shorts out of USC, so conspicuously missing are the early efforts of Steven Spielberg (who didn’t graduate), Ron Howard and Bryan Singer. And where are the women?

Shelf Talk: Retailers that have a solid movie fan customer base and locations in college areas with film studies will want to stock this one, especially with Fox’s attractive box art featuring headshots of the filmmakers. The studio is planning to market the 12-film DVD with Web advertising and promotion.