BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER WINS NATIONAL ARTS AWARD

The National YoungArts Foundation has awarded Lucy Harstrick a Merit Award in Cinematic Arts in recognition of the “exceptional artistic achievement” evident in her work. The award comes with a college recommendation from this prestigious organization. The YoungArts program identifies and supports young talent in the areas of music, theater, visual arts, photography, writing, and cinematic arts (motion picture). Lucy’s production was selected for honors from more than 11,000 submissions nationwide through a blind adjudication process by a nationally and internationally renowned panel of judges, master teachers, and artists.

A third year student in Ballard’s Video Production Program, Lucy plans to study filmmaking in college next year. She pitched her idea for the winning project to the Advanced Video Production class last spring. It was selected for production by her classmates, and Lucy worked with Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen ('13, now at NYU), Josh Vredevoogd ('14), and Kiana Wyld ('14) to realize her concept. Titled Song for Anna, the music video tells a nuanced story that could suggest a couple trying to get together – or trying to break up.

Song for Anna will have its premiere with other recently awarded works by filmmakers in the Ballard High School Video Production Program at The Showing on Saturday, February 8 or Thursday, February 13 at 7 p.m. in the BHS auditorium. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. All proceeds support students in the Program.

BALLARD FILM STUDENTS WIN FIVE-STATE FESTIVAL

For the ninth straight year, students from the Ballard High School Video Production Program are winners in Fresh Film Northwest.  This competitive regional festival is coordinated by the Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon.  It accepts entries from filmmakers ages 13 to 19 in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. 

The music video Stop Pretending by Marlene Anderson, Khasbold Bataa, Gabe Fabens, Zach Green & Lorenzo Rossi won the Creative Self-Expression Award for “outstanding achievement in cinematic storytelling.”  The video features the original song of the same title by Rossi for his band Yellow Peril and concerns relationships that are held together by social expectations.  An Honorable Mention was awarded to the music video Song for Anna, by Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen, Lucy Harstrick, Josh Vredevoogd & Kiana Wyld.  It tells an ambiguous story of romance and loss.  Finally, winner of the Heart Award for “authenticity, originality, and humane treatment of a subject” is the visual story The Eye of the Beholder by Walker Evans, Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen & Brian VanWagenen.  It takes a subjective look at the destructive impact of fashion marketing.         

A jury of filmmakers and educators screened 117 entries to select 14 works for the festival.  The festival seeks to celebrate originality, freshness, authenticity, and conviction in the voices of young filmmakers.  The program will be screened and prizes awarded at the Portland Art Museum’s Whitsell Auditorium on Saturday, November 16 at 1 pm.  Filmmakers, film lovers, friends and families are welcome to attend. 

To see the winners as well as other new work by BHS filmmakers, attend our end-of-the-semester Showing on Saturday, February 8 or Thursday, February 13 at 7 pm in the BHS auditorium.  Tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for students.  All proceeds support the BHS Video Production Program.  

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Sydney Jarol (Class of 2011) with Rebecca Fons of the Chicago International Film Festival

After three productive, enjoyable, and undeniably educational years in the Ballard Video Production Program, I was lucky enough to be granted a generous scholarship to Columbia College Chicago. Columbia had been my first choice, both because it was located in a new and exciting city, and because it’s film program is one of the best in the country (it recently made #14 on the Hollywood Reporter’s Top 25 Film Schools of 2013). It would not have been possible for me to attend without such a scholarship, and I am extremely grateful for all the instruction, both constructively critical and supportive, that I received from Mr. Lawrence during my time in the video program. It was this guidance that inspired me to create the best work possible, and therefore helped me to build a portfolio strong enough to obtain this award. 

Since starting at Columbia College, I have been involved in several projects, filling a wide variety of roles including producer, writer, director, editor, script supervisor, sound designer, and production assistant. It has taken me a while to decide where to focus myself within the world of film production, but I have finally decided on sound design. Sound is something that I never even considered as an option when I thought about working in film, but my first sound class changed my mind completely. I had never realized how much fun sound could be, and once I came to the conclusion that I was perfectly capable of working the equipment and software, it rapidly became my favorite aspect of the filmmaking process. I hope to pursue a career in post-production audio, but I also plan to learn how to work on location sound.

In addition to coursework, I have done my best to continually be involved in extracurricular activities that will ultimately help me achieve my career goals. I have worked as a lab assistant in the post-production center at Columbia, as well as in a teaching assistant position for an art in schools program with Chicago Public Schools. And this past summer, I spent five weeks working as a film instructor for a summer camp at a Chicago elementary school, which was both challenging and rewarding.

But the best, and most exciting experience thus far has been my internship with the Chicago International Film Festival. Beyond the actual process of filmmaking, being a part of making film festivals happen is another passion of mine, and I had been dreaming about working with the festival ever since I first arrived in Chicago and learned of its existence. For two years I volunteered with the festival each fall, and then last spring I was granted an internship working with the Education Outreach Coordinator, Rebecca Fons. In my internship position, I helped to plan and carry out the 2013 CineYouth Festival, in addition to other duties such as assisting with education screenings and general festival events. Although internships generally last only a semester, I was asked to return for the fall, which means that I will be a part of the force behind the 49^th Chicago International Film Festival itself, and I could not be more delighted.

I will graduate next spring (2014) with a B.A. in Film and Video, and a minor in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. 

BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCERS HONORED AT REGIONAL EMMY AWARDS

Each year, the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presents High School Awards of Excellence to celebrate the most outstanding high school productions from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.  The productions are nominated, and the winners determined, by a jury of Academy members.  When the envelopes were opened at the 50th Annual Regional Emmy Awards on June 15, students from the Ballard High School Video Production Program won 3 of the four categories in which they had been nominated.  

Here are the winners, by category: 

Community/Public Service Announcements:
Not Even Once by Sam Baldwin, Paris Burhen, Brian Cropp & Gabriel Tagulao

Long-Form, Fiction:
Godsend by DJ McCoy

Photographer/Editor:
Dream House by Ariahna Ghormley, Ana Krafchick & Louis Weissman

This marks the seventh year in a row that Ballard High School video producers have been winners at the event.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

The Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced nominees for the Northwest High School Awards of Excellence.  These awards celebrate the most outstanding productions from five Northwest states: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.  Productions are nominated by NATAS industry professionals.  Students from the Ballard High School Video Production Program earned eight nominations.  The winners will be announced on June 15 at the 50th Annual Regional Emmy Awards ceremony.  

Ballard’s nominations span four categories, reflecting the diverse skills students learn in the program.  These are the nominations by category. 

Community/Public Service Announcements:
  Anti-Littering by Tristram Fetters, DJ McCoy & Sage Borlo

  Not Even Once by Sam Baldwin, Paris Burhen, Brian Cropp & Gabriel Tagulao

Long-Form, Fiction:
  Godsend by DJ McCoy

Long-Form, Non-Fiction:
  Impact by Kenton King, Jacob Scott & Mackenzie Wright

  My Little Brony by Vann Fulfs, Taylor Martin & Bryan Quandt

Photographer/Editor:
  Dream House by Ariahna Ghormley, Ana Krafchick & Louis Weissman

  Nordic Heritage Museum by Julian Amrine & Joshua Vredevoogd

  Sundown by Vann Fulfs, Bryan Quandt & Jacob Scott

This makes the seventh year in a row that Ballard High School video producers have been nominated.  Last year they received 7 nominations and won the categories of Long Form, Fiction and Photographer/Editor.

NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL FILM FESTIVAL HONORS BHS FILMMAKERS

Students from the Ballard High School Video Production Program won 15 awards and honors across six different categories at the 15th annual Northwest High School Film Festival at the Cinerama Theater in downtown Seattle.  This is the largest and longest running festival for high school filmmakers in the Puget Sound region.  This year 370 productions were entered in the competition from 24 high schools.

Perhaps the biggest prize of the festival is the “J-Dogg” Scholarship.  The award was established in 2011 by the family of Justin Amorratanasuchad, the gifted Ballard High School filmmaker whose career was tragically cut short by an accident during his second year of college.  The memorial scholarship gives upwards of $5,000 each year toward the college education of a festival winner preparing to pursue a degree in film and television production.  This year, the award was presented to BHS Video senior Vann Fulfs.  In the fall, Vann will be studying film production at Columbia College in Chicago – a program ranked by the Hollywood Reporter as one of the best in the world.

The festival was judged by a panel of industry professionals and college media professors.  The event was organized by the Media Educators for Excellence Team (MEET) and sponsored by Adobe, Advanced Broadcast Solutions, the Art Institute of Seattle, Keith Rivers Films, Glazier’s Camera, Key Code Media, and Shoreline Community College.  For more information on the NWHSFF, visit www.nwhsff.weebly,org.
 
There will be a screening of new work by students in the BHS Video Production Program (including one of this year’s prize-winning shorts) on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. in the BHS auditorium.  Tickets to “The Showing” are $10 for adults and $8 for students and will be sold at the door.

Ballard’s Northwest High School Film Festival winners:

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Dramatic Narrative - Suspense
  Sundown
  Vann Fulfs, Bryan Quandt, Jacob Scott 

News Feature
  Viking Robotics
  Ben Fuesel, Bryan Quandt

Public Service Announcement
  The Door
  Liam Moser, Cecilia Orozco-Chavez, Kimi Rutledge

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Comedic Narrative
  An Appetite for Knowledge
  Gabe Fabens, Nick Hauger, Lorenzo Rossi

  Great Mimes Think Alike
  Will Slater, Michael Vitz-Wong, Kiana Wyld

  Hollyday
  Katie Brostrom, Kelsey Mendenhall, Sara Timmons 

Commercial
  A Night to Remember
  Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen, Ana Krafchick, Cooper Rickards

Documentary
  Deep Down
  Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen, Kaila Lafferty, Oona Lowe

  My Little Brony
  Vann Fulfs, Brian Quandt, Taylor Martin

Dramatic Narrative
  Eye of the Beholder
  Walker Evans, Isaiah Hoban-Halvorsen, Brian VanWagenen

News Feature
  Ballard Cooks
  Milo Adams, Coleman Anderson, Carlos Caceres Martinez, Leo Pfeifer

  It Takes Balls to Juggle
  Brian Cropp, Lily , Raven Two Feathers

PSA/Anti-Ad
  Know Your Limit
  Joseph Downey, Grace Turnell, Robyn Wrey
 
  Not Even Once
  Sam Baldwin, Paris Burhen, Brian Cropp, Gabe Tagulao

  Real Nordic Heritage
  Julian Amrine, Joshua Vredevoogd

BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKERS SCORE AT FILM COMPETITION

Three shorts by ten Ballard High School video students have won two of the major prizes and an Honorable Mention at the Dominique Dunne Film Competition in Colorado Springs.  The competition was one of the first events in the nation to showcase the work of young filmmakers.  It awards only four prizes: two for Documentary, and two for Dramatic Narrative.  Only schools with outstanding film programs were invited to participate, and each school was limited to just four entries. 

Isaiah Hoban-Halversen, Kaila Lafferty & Oona Lowe won Second Prize in the Documentary Category for Deep Down, the story of Alessandro Gilmini’s near-death experience in an ice cave.  In the Dramatic Category, Walker Evans, Elise Neroutsos, Jamie Vitz-Wong & Sam Weller won Second Prize for their sinister short The Craft.  The Honorable Mention went to the suspenseful short Sundown by Vann Fulfs, Bryan Quandt & Jacob Scott.

The students will receive cash prizes for each honor, as well as written critiques from the prestigious jury, including producer Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. (of The Samuel Goldwyn Company and Samuel Goldwyn Films), actor/director Griffin Dunne (An American Werewolf in London, After Hours) and producer/ director/actor Ed Sherin (Law & Order).     

BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKERS FEATURED AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

Seven short films by seventeen students in the Ballard High School Video Production Program have been named Official Selections of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY).  This competitive festival showcases outstanding work by filmmakers age 22 and younger.  NFFTY is a rare opportunity for high school students to share the spotlight with college students from our nation’s best film schools.  This year, NFFTY received over 700 entries from 30 states and 20 countries.  NFFTY opens at the Seattle Cinerama Theater on Thursday, April 25 and continues through Sunday, April 28 at the Seattle Center.

Official Selections for NFFTY are determined by a jury of professional filmmakers.  These short films by Ballard High School video students have been selected for screening.

Deep Down by Isaiah Hoban-Halversen, Kaila Lafferty & Oona Lowe

Dream House  by Ariahna Ghormley, Ana Krafchick & Louis Weissman

Great Mimes Think Alike by Will Slater, Michael Vitz-Wong & Kiana Wyld

Making a Mark  by Brittney Blokker, Helen Miller & Sam Weller 

My Little Brony by Vann Fulfs, Taylor Martin & Bryan Quandt

Sundown  by Vann Fulfs, Bryan Quandt & Jacob Scott

In addition, Leo Pfeifer’s short 74, produced last summer before he entered the BHS Video Production Program, was also selected.

Festival screenings are built around unifying themes.  The Northwest Scene screening (noon on Sunday, April 28 at the SIFF Uptown 1) is said to feature “the best of the West” by the Northwest’s “extremely talented young filmmakers.”  This year, half of these films are by Ballard High School Video Production students. 

BHS also has a team competing in the 48-hour Film Off.  Each school’s team has two days to produce a short from start to finish.  The winner (selected in part by the audience) will win funds for their school’s production program.  You can catch the 48-Hour Film Off – and cast your vote - on Saturday, April 27 at 11:30 at the SIFF Uptown 1.  

In addition to screenings and awards, NFFTY includes forums on filmmaking.  For a complete schedule of events, show times, and ticket information, visit www.nffty.org.

NFFTY itself is the brainchild of Ballard High School video alumnus Jesse Harris (’04).  Harris made history in 2004 when Living Life, the feature film he had written and directed as a senior project, was purchased by FilmMates and given a theatrical release.  (It opened in Seattle in April, 2005.)  The festival was co-founded by Harris, Kyle Seago (’07) – then a Ballard High School Video student - and Jocelyn RC (Bellevue High School, ’07).  A growing list of sponsors and partners paved the way for this seventh annual event.

BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKERS WIN TOP AWARDS

On Saturday, February 23, six Ballard High School video students won two of the top prizes at the 17th Annual Derek Freese Youth Media Film Festival at Temple University in Philadelphia.

The award for Best Documentary went to Deep Down by Isaiah Hoban-Halversen, Kaila Lafferty & Oona Lowe. As a fourteen-year-old Ballard High School student, Alessandro Gelmini was exploring an ice cave with a friend when it collapsed, burying both boys beneath piles of shattered ice and debris. Deep Down tells the story of his rescue and recovery through interviews with Gelmini, his mother, and an emergency response professional, as well as news footage and expressive use of light and sound.

Best Editing went to Great Mimes Think Alike, a comedic short by Will Slater, Michael Vitz-Wong & Kiana Wyld. The story (by Kiana Wyld) concerns a mime content to earn his living on Market Street until a rival mime stakes a claim nearby. The short uses visual storytelling techniques so well it’s easy to see what characters are thinking. In good mime tradition, nobody says a word.

Seven other works by students from the Ballard High School Video Production Program had also been nominated: three others for Best Documentary and two others for Best Editing, as well as two for Best Fiction. The festival invites competition from high school filmmakers throughout the nation and is judged by professors from Temple University’s renowned School of Film and Media Arts, acclaimed filmmakers, and members of the Derek Freese Foundation.

NINE BHS FILMS NAMED FINALISTS IN NATIONAL FESTIVAL

Nine works by students in the Ballard High School Video Production Program have been named finalists in the 17th Annual Derek Freese Youth Media Film Festival.  This prestigious festival draws competition from high school filmmakers throughout the nation and is judged by professors from Temple University’s renowned School of Film and Media Arts, acclaimed filmmakers, and members of the Derek Freese Foundation. 

The finalists will be screened and prizes awarded in each category during the festival from 4 – 7 pm on Saturday, February 23rd at Temple University’s Annenberg Hall in Philadelphia.

Four of the honored productions can be seen in The Showing this Friday, February 22 at 7 pm in the Ballard High School auditorium.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and will be sold at the door.  The funds raised will help send students to Los Angeles to tour the film and television industry and related college programs. 

Here are Ballard’s finalists:

Nominated for Best Documentary:

Deep Down by Isaiah Hoban-Halversen, Kaila Lafferty & Oona Lowe

Impact by Kenton King, Jacob Scott & Mackenzie Wright

My Little Brony by Vann Fulfs, Taylor Martin & Bryan Quandt 

Unbroken by Marlene Andersen, Adhem Morsi & Cooper Rickards

Nominated for Best Editing:

Dream House, a dramatic short by Ariahna Ghormley, Ana Krafchick & Louis Weissman

Great Mimes Think Alike, a comedic short by Will Slater, Michael Vitz-Wong & Kiana Wyld

Sunlight, a dramatic short by Isaiah Hoban-Halversen & Kenji Takada-Dill

Nominated for Best Fiction:

The Number by Alex Guettler, Ana Krafchick & Helen Miller

Sundown by Vann Fulfs, Bryan Quandt & Jacob Scott

FILM AND VIDEO STUDENTS PREMIERE NEW WORK

Everyone is invited to The Showing, a screening of new work produced first semester by students in the Video Production Program. The Showing will be Friday, February 8 at 7 p.m. in the Ballard High School auditorium. It will be repeated on Friday, February 22. The program will include short comedies and dramas, news features, advertisements, and documentaries. Three of these works recently won Creative Self-Expression Awards for “outstanding achievement in cinematic storytelling” from the Fresh Film Northwest Festival at the Portland Art Museum.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students, and will be sold at the door. All proceeds benefit students in the Video Production Program.