Youth reels
Students win awards in video competition
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Justin Snide (left), Sam Rajsky and Chelset Tice eat pizza during a break at Castleton Videofest 2009 on Friday at Castleton State College. The trio took top honors for their video “Stafford All Stars Roadshow 2008-09.” Rajsky also won the top award for her piece, “Words From The Asylum.” Stafford students won three of the four first-place awards and several other certificates. Albert J. marro / Rutland Herald |
Toolbox
By Cristina Kumka Staff Writer - Published: May 9, 2009
From social responsibility to drug and emotional abuse awareness, the short films shown Friday in Castleton State College's Casella Theater during the 14th annual Videofest focused on issues Vermont teens care about.
That's because the films were created by them.
About 30 students in video production high school programs across the state, their advisors and film enthusiasts from the general public sat silently in the theater observing short film after short film, all created, edited and directed by students.
The clips, made with the latest film editing and producing software available at technical schools throughout the state — including Stafford Technical Center, Randolph Technical Center and Southwest Vermont Career Development Center — ranged from one minute long to nearly an hour.
The film "Hot Stuff" featured a comedic dance troupe the likes of N'Sync.
"Trainwrecking with Jobz" spoofed the televised show "Blind Date."
There were music videos, public service announcements and reenactments of popular horror flicks.
"Ethan Allen" documented the eventual demise of an old factory in Randolph turned skateboard park for hopeful kids.
One of the student producers of Ethan Allen, 18-year-old Micah Ross of Randolph Technical Center, said he documented the skateboard park with their friends to try to save it.
The group — creating award-winning short films for only a year — also made an advertisement for Sugarbush Resort that they hope to submit to the resort.
"The place is getting torn down," said Ross, of the reasoning behind shooting Ethan Allen and showing it at Friday's festival. "It's fun being here and seeing other people's stuff" as well, he said.
The Videofest started 14 years ago as a college recruitment tool, but has transformed into a creative outlet for young film creators — an event that draws about 30 student submissions a year.
A panel of advanced video productions students from Castleton, professional videographers, and representatives of Vermont Public Television judged the videos before the festival and awarded first, second, third, and special awards to the students with the best short films.
Five hundred dollar scholarships were given to the first place winners in a number of categories — from narrative fiction to social awareness and best overall.
According to Koran Salem, a former judge and Castleton employee who has been involved with the festival since 2003, the issues presented by the high schools film creators largely remains the same, they are just packaged in more innovative and technologically advanced ways each year.
Another aspect of the Videofest also seems to be a constant, she said.
"It's so awesome, the students have a way to express their creativity," Salem said.
"A lot of times, teens feel they don't have a voice and here at the festival, they do."
Chelsea Tice of Stafford, who won first place for her Road Show Animation film, said the same.
"People underestimate high school level students and this contest shows what students are doing and what they can produce," she said.
For more information on the Castleton Videofest and winners this year, call Tom Conroy at 468-1373.
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
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