Four Belmont film students earned a tidy sum of money for themselves and the school with a first-place movie on the dangers of distracted driving.
The film topped the national Allstate Just Drive Canada video contest, defeating 146 other entries. The filmmakers, Matt Girard, Gabrielle Semail, and Stephanie Clarke, all in Grade 11, were awarded $1,500 while $1,000 was awarded to Belmont's drama, film and television class. The film will be screened at the Belmont Film Festival in June.
The contest challenged film students to create a public service announcement on the dangers of distracted driving.
The students came up with the concept of a young girl getting ready for a party. As she primps a narrator reveals that this is the last time she will be doing such things as having a meal, putting on makeup and saying goodbye to her parents.
As the teen drives to the party she checks a text on her cell phone and is hit head on by another vehicle.
B次元官网网址淥ne second ago, her heart beat for the last time,B次元官网网址� says the narrator as the video comes to a close.
B次元官网网址淚t makes my mom cry every time,B次元官网网址� said Nik Neral, Grade 11, who narrated the film.
The most challenging aspect of filming for the students was using a B次元官网网址済reen screenB次元官网网址� to superimpose the outside of the car during the driving scene. A B次元官网网址済reen screen,B次元官网网址� or chroma keying, allows filmmakers to add in backgrounds or other elements in post-production.
B次元官网网址淚t was an amazing feeling to actually win," Clarke said. B次元官网网址淲e worked really hard on it and thought it turned out really good. It was fun making it too.B次元官网网址�
Girard hopes to go to film school after her graduates and has aspirations to be a director. Semail is most interested in the acting side of things, but hasn't decided yet if she wants to pursue it professionally. Acting is a passion for Neral also, but is unsure if he'll take his interest beyond high school.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really creative,B次元官网网址� Semail said of filmmaking. B次元官网网址淵ou can really just do whatever you want and experiment with new angles. It's so much fun.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t's a way to express yourself that's unlike any other,B次元官网网址� Girard added.
B次元官网网址�The Last TimeB次元官网网址� went through two levels of competition. The first was a voting round, where anyone could go online and vote for their favourite entries. The young filmmakers in Lori Haddon's drama film and television class canvassed classmates, teachers, family and friends to go vote for their videos. Ultimately all five of the videos produced in the class collected enough votes to make it into the top 10.
From there the videos were judged on originality, clarity of message, style and quality of acting.
Haddon found out about the results during a class and had the pleasure of announcing B次元官网网址�The Last TimeB次元官网网址� had tied for first.
B次元官网网址淚'm so proud. Proud that they're reaching an audience with an important message too,B次元官网网址� Haddon said. B次元官网网址淚t does have an affect.B次元官网网址�
