A short produced by filmmaker Robert J. Thissen, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Fresno, is one of nine finalists in an “American Idol”-style competition on cable-TV’s Sci-Fi Channel in collaboration with the Sundance Channel.

Thissen’s “Paradox Road” is a psychological drama played out in under eight minutes that features Fresno-area actors and was filmed in the Fresno and Madera County area on a $500 budget. Thissen did most of the work; producing, directing, writing, editing, composing the sound track, creating special effects and operating the camera.

Thissen’s short movie was chosen from among thousands to be one of 64 that was placed online for the judgment of the voting public. The nine finalists will be broadcast during the “Exposure Film Contest,” which airs at 9 p.m. May 20 for satellite viewers and midnight for cable subscribers in the Pacific time zone. Viewers vote online May 21-25 for their favorite movie.

The winning producer will get a trip to New York to pitch an idea to Sci-Fi.

As a graduate student at Fresno State, Thissen produced and directed two short films (a sci-fi action film and a horror ghost mystery) that won awards and helped get him jobs in the film industry in pursuit his goal of becoming a director.

Thissen’s film has its own Web site at www.geocities.com/paradoxroad. “Paradox Road” also airs www.scifi.com/exposure and www.sundancechannel.com/exposure, where the voting will take place.