from on .
Getting lost in a comic book has paid off for John Roney, a Grade 12 student at Reynolds secondary school,
The 17-year-old won the senior category of FilmCAN, an online video competition for middle and high school students from the Island. Kids create a short film and upload it to the Victoria Film FestivalB次元官网网址檚 video-sharing vimeo webpage. Two earn the chance to have their films screened alongside features during the festival, which runs Feb. 3 to 12.
B次元官网网址淚 was pretty excited,B次元官网网址� said Roney, a self-taught animator who spent two months crafting his winning submission.B次元官网网址淚t was pretty big for me to get to say that IB次元官网网址檝e won that when IB次元官网网址檓 applying to universities.B次元官网网址�
At just shy of four minutes, tells the story of a young comic artist who gets pulled into his work. The hobby animator caught the judgesB次元官网网址� attention with his use of a high definition camcorder, Adobe Premier, After Effects and Photoshop for some sleek effects B次元官网网址� and $2 in props.
Festival programmer Donovan Aikman calls the competition a stepping stone for young filmmakers, many of whom have gone on to pursue film at the post-secondary level. Part of the appeal of FilmCAN, which also connects students with professional mentors, springs from the community it creates, Aikman said. All submissions remain open to the public posted to the FilmCAN group at vimeo.com/groups/filmcan, where entrants have the chance to view the work of their peers.
B次元官网网址淚n todayB次元官网网址檚 media-saturated world, it can feel like you donB次元官网网址檛 connect with anyone else and that movies come from somewhere else,B次元官网网址� Aikman said, explaining why itB次元官网网址檚 important to pay attention to local films. B次元官网网址淭hey come from the filmmakers here and weB次元官网网址檙e really happy to support that and encourage that and find ways to get students talking and looking at each othersB次元官网网址� work.B次元官网网址�
Despite the accessibility of video-making and broadcasting B次元官网网址� webcams and YouTube B次元官网网址� Aikman, a 15-year devotee of the festival, says audiences still appreciate a quality film.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always that need for good content,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淐ontent that people have put the time and effort and energy into.B次元官网网址�
The filmmaking experience becomes real for budding filmmakers at the festival, he added.
B次元官网网址淭he Internet is a very ethereal place. You post something and a lot of numbers go up, but you never meet (the viewers). Here you see it on the screen and realize that these real, warm-bodied people have left their homes and come downtown to see something youB次元官网网址檝e made.B次元官网网址�
RoneyB次元官网网址檚 prize for winning at the Grade 9-12 level includes an iMac with video editing software. Ethan Stoppi, a Grade 8 student at Maria Montessori Academy, won a video camera and screening for taking the junior category with his film Super Hero Academy.
B次元官网网址淢y goal is Hollywood, IB次元官网网址檇 say, but IB次元官网网址檇 like to go into directing for an actual job,B次元官网网址� said Roney, who will be adding the credit to his film school applications.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
On the screen
from on .
" target="_blank">Dimensions (screens with To Be Heard)
7:00 p.m., Fri., Feb. 10, Cineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas, 780 Yates St.
Super Hero Academy (screens with Mrs. CareyB次元官网网址檚 Concert)
6:45 p.m., Sun. Feb. 12, Empire Theatres Capitol 6, 805 Yates St.
Tickets to both events are available at VictoriaFilmFestival.com or 250-389-0444.
