Many movies made by high schoolers are vague because the students haven’t yet grasped the art of storytelling.
But Lusion, the winning entry in the fifth annual MHS Film Festival, keeps you guessing on purpose.
“I didn’t want to have any clichés…I tried to make it ambiguous,” senior Trevor Stephney said on Friday, after winning for the second year in a row.
He went home with camera gear, courtesy of an anonymous benefactor, as did Nya Federoff and Jessica Vogel, sophomores who finished second with More Than Blue, an endearing story of young love, and sophomore Kylee Strasser, third-place winner for A Collection of Colors, about discrimination in the schools.
MHS Film Fest winners Jessica Vogel, Kya Federoff, Kylee Strasser and Trevor Stephney are flanked by Festival co-founders Brian Kievning and Mike Butler, June 9, 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Fifteen short entries, all on the theme of “Color,” were judged by Tara Bernie, a producer of NBC Access Hollywood and longtime emcee of Morristown Onstage; Pamela Garber, a 2002 MHS graduate who has produced TV commercials for several agencies; and Shoshana Buxbaum, an associate producer for NJTV News.
The media center was packed for the MHS Film Festival, June 9, 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
“The caliber of talent is pretty good,” said Bernie. “Not really the concepts, but the editing and the directing is really advanced.”
Several students merited honorable mentions.
“Founder Awards” from photography teacher Brian Kievning and broadcasting teacher Mike Butler went, respectively, to Maggie Mustion for True Colors and Casey McNichol and Logan Lenehan for Your Color.
Going Green, by Matty Monahan, got an “Alumni Award” from Matt Prusso (’16), now studying film and TV at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
And emcee Amanda Geffner presented Butler with tea and roses from his seniors, as thanks for his broadcasting instruction over the years. Asked what he’d learned from Butler, graduate Matt Prusso replied:
“Everything.”
‘WE PUSHED HIM SO HARD!’
The biggest challenge in More Than Blue was editing, said Nya Federoff.
“It took weeks to cut three minutes out!” said partner Jessica Vogel.
Vogel, a violinist, also recorded the soundtrack, Edward Elgar’s Salut d’Amour, with classmate Ava Tan on piano.
The directors figured their movie would have greater impact with little kids as the stars.
SOPHOMORE STARS: MHS Film Fest prize winners Jessica Vogel, Nya Federoff and Kylee Strasser, June 9, 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
“We wanted people to really feel the love,” said Vogel, whose script was inspired by the montage from the Disney animated film UP, “but with a happy ending.”
They recruited a friend’s brother, 5th grader Matthew Bozza, whose character is smitten by the girl next door.
“We pushed him so hard!” Federoff said. “His acting’s so great. He’s the cutest little thing.”
For Kylee Strasser, the hardest part about A Collection of Colors was finding a collection of classmates willing to share their experiences with racial bias on camera. Melanin Minds, a student organization, helped with that, she said.
The takeaway?
“I hope people will realize that discrimination is still around, even in a diverse place like Morristown,” Strasser said. “You can change the actions of others just by being kind.”
ONE CHANCE
Lusion, an stylish melange of color and imagery set to driving beats, was inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey, said Stephney, who appears on both sides of the camera.
Acting, directing, shooting, editing… “I love it all,” he said. “I want to be a Renaissance man.”
“He has an incredible knack to come up with ideas. While some kids sit and talk all class and can’t come up with ideas, this kid can sit for 15 minutes and he’s got something. I can’t wait to see what he does in the future.”
Stephney will pursue that future at Montclair State University, on a scholarship. He credits MHS broadcasting classes with teaching him how to collaborate.
And he cites his father, Bill Stephney, former producer and managing executive at Def Jam Records and Public Enemy, for providing inspiration.
“I see all the stuff he’s achieved, the respect he has, and I want to be like that,” Trevor Stephney said. “I want to surpass him one day.”
Crowd watches the MHS Film Festival, June 9, 2017. Photo by Kevin CoughlinMHS Film Fest winners & panelists: (L-R) Tara Bernie (panel), Trevor Stephney, Jessica Vogel, Nya Federoff; Matt Prusso (panel/alum); Kylee Strasser; Pamela Garber (panel/alum), Shoshana Buxbaum (panel), June 9, 2017. Photo by Kevin CoughlinEmcee Amanda Geffner, center, with teacher Mike Butler, honored by seniors at MHS Film Fest, June 9, 2017. Photo by Kevin CoughlinIt was standing room only at the MHS Film Fest, June 9, 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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