Sandy documentary takes top prize at Morristown High School’s first video fest

0

Video editing generally does not rank among teenagers’ favorite Friday night pastimes.

But the sacrifice paid off for Austin Ellis and Meahgan Gibson, winners of the first Morristown High School Film Festival.

Austin Ellis and Meahgan Gibson, winners of the first MHS film fest. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Austin Ellis and Meahgan Gibson, winners of the first MHS film fest. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Surviving Sandy, their documentary about the hurricane’s impact on Long Beach Island, beat out more than 40 student entries to take top honors Thursday from a three-judge panel of experts.

Freshmen Kirsten Traudt and Madeline Zurcher finished second with The Fad Cycle, a literate look at the evolution of fads.

Connor Taunton, Jessica Torres and Sarah Kane scored third-place kudos for a probing video about homelessness in Morristown titled, Hello My Name Is.

“I thought it would be interesting,” Austin said of Surviving Sandy, which tells the story of last fall’s devastating super-storm from the perspective of two family friends who attempted to ride it out on the battered island.

The documentary succeeded, the senior said, thanks to “long hours every Friday night.”

Please click icon below for captions.

Meaghan, a junior, said they started shooting in December “because we wanted to show a lot of damage.” She was surprised by the extent of it.  “They couldn’t even flush the toilets. The sewers were out.”

The duo began piecing together all their footage in mid-March. Distilling hours of interviews and B-roll into 10 minutes of screen time was challenging, Meahgan said. Nearly as hard: “Picking good music” to convey the survivors’ grim situation.

Surviving Sandy includes terrifying home videos of the ferocious Atlantic roaring through homes.  Some clips were cut because the language was too salty, Meahgan said.

As the project took shape, Meaghan also worked on Colonial Corner, the high school’s video news magazine, while collaborating on a second entry for the festival. Should Something Be Done examines gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook School massacre.

Austin, who plans to study business and film at Boston College, juggled his video chores with pitching duties for the Colonials’ baseball varsity.

For their efforts, each won a Nikon D5300 camera, courtesy of an anonymous donor, and a share of $200 in prize money from the Home School Association. The second-place team also won cameras, while the third-place finishers received gift certificates to Sandrian Camera.

Entries were judged by Caits Meisner of the Tribeca Film Institute, Mark Ehrenkranz of the New York Film Critics series, and Brad “Bisco” Smith of ARTS By the People.

The evening of documentaries capped the fifth annual MHS Art Show, a 1,500-piece exhibition that included a fashion show (Meahgan was a model), dueling muralists and a cardboard boat contest.

“I can’t wait till next year,” said Art Show organizer Brian Kievning, who teaches photography.

Broadcasting teacher Mike Butler announces winners of first Morristown High School film fest, as assistant producer Allie Lott listens. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Broadcasting teacher Mike Butler announces winners of the first Morristown High School film fest, as assistant producer Allie Lott listens. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Video entries traced New Jersey’s underground music scene, chronicled a community garden, and delved into the worlds of 3rd graders and high schoolers.

Immigrant students from Egypt and Germany were profiled. Bacon and Baking each got clever treatment. Morristown police spoke candidly on camera.

Broadcasting teacher Mike Butler, who produced the film festival with an assist from senior filmmaker Allie Lott, said he got choked up by the back stories.

Some video newcomers bested Broadcasting III veterans. Others struggled to complete their projects.

“You forget these kids are just 14!” said Mike, a former director for Court TV. “We’re holding them to professional standards.”

Those standards, it turns out, lured Meahgan’s family back from China.

“We moved to Shanghai a year ago,” said Cindy Gibson, Meaghan’s mom. “We decided to come back because of Mr. Butler. His mentoring is priceless.”

We invite these talented young filmmakers–and you!–to enter the Sixth Annual MorristownGreen.com Film Festival. Entry deadline is June 15, 2013, for the August screening. Our theme: Documentaries, under five minutes, keep ’em clean. Three prize categories!

 

LEAVE A REPLY