Video: Webisode 2 of ‘Elliot Baxter,’ from Morristown High’s Zaji Zabalerio

Back in December, Zaji Zabalerio introduced us to the trials and tribulations of Elliot Baxter, a “smart but socially awkward student” played by Morristown High School junior Rob Carroll.

Elliot is back in webisode 2, which features guest appearances by Vice Principal Mike Bruchac and English teacher George LaVigne.

And once again, you can vote on where the action leads next.

Keep ‘em coming, Zaji!

MORE ON MHS FILMMAKER ZAJI ZABALERIO

Video: Meet ‘Elliot Baxter,’ a new series from Morristown’s Zaji Zabalerio

The last time we checked in on Zaji Zabalerio, he was winning a prize at the MorristownGreen.com Film Festival for directing The Last Ride of Sustainable Man.

Not one to rest on his laurels, the Morristown High School junior is back with an exciting new project: Elliot Baxter.

It’s a series of webisodes; viewers guide story outcomes by voting on Facebook. Zaji explains:

 

 

Elliot Baxter is played by Rob Carroll, a junior in MHS, and his character is this really quirky, smart, but socially awkward student. The mini-series was meant to be in a fixed storyline but since it’ll be exclusively on YouTube, the audience, being a part of the experience, has the right to decide on what they’re seeing (thus the Facebook page). Each episode will be a fixed storyline until the end, where the audience can decide on what happens next, which will tie in perfectly with the next, regardless of what they choose.

 

Morristown students net three of four prizes at 2011 Film Festival

By Sharon Sheridan

Steven Spielberg, watch out. Morristown’s youth have moved into filmmaking with flair, capturing three of four awards at the Fourth Annual Morristown Green Film (and Music) Festival.

About 100 people braved the suddenly cold weather to view 15 featured films and vote for their favorites. The race was close. Six votes separated first from third place, which saw its first-ever tie, and several films fell only a few votes short of the winners’ circle.

Morristown High School Senior Class President Joey Gatto took top honors with his rap about sustainability — this year’s festival theme — “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”

“I’m so happy and so proud of him,” said his mother, Barbara. “I won’t sleep all night!”

“I was almost about to cry,” Joey told her.

On stage, he described a quick film-production schedule, with inspiration hitting at one day and filming finishing the next. His plans for the first-place trophy? “Take a picture of it and send it to the colleges I apply to.”

Second prize went to “Domino Tracks” featuring 9-year-old Crosby Ruhalter, a student at the Alexander Hamilton School in Morristown. His video showed dominos toppling on multiple complex tracks he erected. “He was make them all winter,” said his dad, Eric.

As Morristown Green editor and festival emcee Kevin Coughlin noted, it’s a sustainable hobby, repeatedly reusing the dominoes plus “it’s not using any electricity.”

Showing sustainability of another sort, Eric Ruhalter maintained his videographic prowess from last year, when he won best picture for “Good for the Earth.” This year, he tied for third place with his film “Nine Matches,” featuring a couple stuck in an elevator.

The other third-place winner was another Morristown High School student, Zaji Zabalerio, who directed “The Last Ride of Sustainable Man.” In an Oscar ceremony-worthy speech, he sent a shout-out to his cheering section of fellow students: “I would like to thank my good friends, who support me with everything.”

Here are a few photos of the festival. Check back at MorristownGreen.com in the days ahead for more.

 

 

 

 

Joey Gatto wins 2011 MorristownGreen.com Film Festival with hip-hop video

Sustainability was the theme of the Fourth Annual MorristownGreen.com Film & Music Festival, and Joey Gatto hit the nail on the head with his music video, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

The audience voted the Best Picture trophy to the Morristown High School senior class president for his hip hop treatment of recycling, a story in which boy-gets-girl when he does the right thing with his trash.

In addition to the shimmering trophy from Rios’ Engraving, Joey won two passes to the eight-week New York Film Critics Series in Morristown, plus $100 in gift certificates from the Morristown Partnership and a $25 gift card from Greenberry’s.

Placing second in the voting was 9-year-old Crosby Ruhalter, whose Domino Tracks was a mesmerizing look at the timeless knock-’em-down game.  Crosby won a FaceCam HD digital camcorder from Sandrian Camera, a $50 gift certificate from the Morristown Partnership and a $25 gift card from Greenberry’s.

Crosby actually edged out his dad, Eric Ruhalter, who was last year’s winner. Eric’s Nine Matches tied for third place with Zaji Zabalerio’s  The Last Ride of Sustainable Man.

They each won a pair of tickets to The Intergalactic Nemesis at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in January, and $25 apiece from the Morristown Partnership and Greenberry’s.

The crowd braved chilly night temperatures to cheer for their favorites at Pioneer Park at Headquarters Plaza, where eight musical acts performed through the afternoon. They were: Jon Zlock, Joey Gatto (yes, he’s a beat-boxer, too), the Loretta Hagen Band, Lucid Funk Dream, Captain Lung, Danny Dones and headliners the Steevan Mars Band.

The afternoon also featured environmental exhibitors as part of the Green off the Green event organized by Sustainable Morristown. BASF and Covanta Energy sponsored all of the day’s events.

Many thanks are in order, and they will be delivered soon. But your humble correspondent/ emcee is wiped out and needs some shuteye.  So for now, my thanks to everyone who came out and supported our local filmmakers and musicians.

Stay tuned for more, including pictures and all the video entries.

MORE ABOUT THE 2011 MG FILM & MUSIC FEST

 

Let the video voting begin for Morristown’s ‘Most Treasured Businesses’

Some of Morristown’s most successful business people now can add “video star” to their resumes, thanks to Morristown High School and the Morristown Partnership.

Students have created video profiles of 15 of Morristown’s oldest businesses.  Vote for your favorite video, and help the students win $600 in prize money. The contest runs through May 25.

“We’re thrilled to connect the high school community and our businesses. It’s a win-win for everyone,” said the Partnership’s France Delle Donne, who suggested the theme last fall when the high school expressed interest in a video project. “Look at the faces of the people interviewed. They’re beaming.”

Students were recruited from Mike Butler’s broadcasting classes and Julie Delimon’s journalism courses.

“Through this experience, students were able to learn valuable skills for conducting interviews, writing scripts, and working collaboratively with peers,” Julie said via email.

“The final products showcase some local businesses that are hidden gems in the community that may sometimes be overlooked.  Each video … reflects the unique nature of the businesses in our town and the creativity of the student groups.  I hope that it will help the students, as well as the community, to better understand the value of Morristown’s local businesses and the importance of supporting these business.”

Mike said he hopes to make the contest an annual event.

Scenes from Carevolution Live, a concert to remember at Morristown High School

The cafeteria at Morristown High School pulsated with good vibes on Friday night, courtesy of Carevolution Live, a concert organized by students to promote a mentoring program called Peer Group Connection.

Zaji Zabalerio captured the excitement with these great photos. The musical entertainment was furnished by Groovetopia, Roadwork Ahead, Rabbi Darkside and 3rd Party, and Philadelphia rapper Tayyib Ali.

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