Young Northland filmmakers pull on the heart strings
Home » Blog » Sarah Heeringa » Young Northland filmmakers pull on the heart strings“A brilliant ... deeply emotional and engaging, a wonderfully powerful idea about us having a personal relationship with global warming... which we can and must break off”—Rod Oram
Above: Charlee Collins and Jonathan King at the awards
One of the great things I got to do this year was to help judge the entries for the Outlook for Someday young filmmakers’ sustainability film challenge. Entries came from around the country and had been made by young Kiwis aged 3 to 21. They ranged from dramas, humorous animations and documentaries.
With so much great material to choose from it was an all day job to for our judging team to decide on the top 20 films.
But the standout winner The Break Up was obvious to all. The short film takes a simple idea and really makes it work onscreen—tackling the issue of climate change though ‘Dear John’ telephone conversation shared by five teenagers. It was made by a talented young film-maker, Charlee Collins from Kaitaia College.
Hot new director Jonathan King was at TVNZ last night to hand out the awards. King’s latest movie, Under The Mountain, opens in cinemas this week.
The Break Up is evidence of more Kiwi film making talent to emerge. As media commentator Rod Oram says "... it’s brilliant ... deeply emotional and engaging, a wonderfully powerful idea about us having a personal relationship with global warming ... which we can/must break off."
The winning films are now being broadcast on TVNZ 6 on both Freeview (channel 6) and Sky Television (channel 16). They can also be viewed from 10 December at tvnz.co.nz
Vote for your Audience Favourite here.
Bumper prize packs
All 20 young film-makers and teams were given a prize pack of goodies including a copy of the latest issue of Good and a year’s subscription to magazine. See here for the full prize details As a special recognition for Charlee and the great film career ahead of her, the Screen Directors Guild also gave Charlee her first year’s membership to the guild.
Want to get involved in 2010?
Now in its third year, The Outlook for Someday challenge is to make a sustainability-related film of any length up to 5 minutes. Entrants up to the age of 24 are encouraged to choose any genre they like, to film with any camera they like, and to interpret ‘sustainability’ in the way that makes best sense to them.Click here to sign up for more information.
Special Awards Results
Connected Media Sustainable Future Award for a film which promotes dialogue on sustainability through a new perspective and/or critical thinking. Won by Charlee Collins of Kaitaia College for The Break Up—a cautionary tale about global warming told in the form of a ‘Dear John’ phone call. Watch here.
The Body Shop Film-making Achievement Award for a film with outstanding creative / technical quality. Won by Picklethugs (the team of Calvin Sang of Saint Kentigern College, who also won this award in 2008) for Home—in which a visitor from another planet appreciates things about our world that we seem to miss. Watch here.
New Zealand Post NZ Focus Award for a film focusing on sustainability in New Zealand. Won by Three Musketeers Productions of Waikato Diocesan School for Girls for Natural NZ—in which a farmers’ market shows the way to a sustainable future. Watch here.
Ministry of Youth Development Youth Participation Award for a film with strong participation by young people among themselves and/or at a community level. Won by 60 Springs Devon Intermediate of New Plymouth for Freshwater Crayfish In Pukekura Park—in which a school project collects data on creatures living in a local park as a way of helping to conserve species in the future. Watch here.
Te Puni KÅkiri Te Reo & Tikanga MÄori Award for a film making use of Te Reo and Tikanga MÄori. Won by The Matthews and Riwai-Couch Tamariki of Te Kura Kaupapa MÄori o Wairarapa, Hutt Intermediate School and Pomare Primary School for Our Whare—a bilingual film that shows couch tamariki how every bit counts when it comes to saving resources in our homes. Watch here.
WWF Secondary School Film-makers Award for a film made by young people of secondary school age. Won by Emmy James of Morrinsville for The Visitor—an animated film that looks at meat production and global warming through the eyes of an alien. Watch here.
Enviroschools Primary/Intermediate School Film-makers Award for a film made by young people of primary or intermediate school age. Won by Andrew Duncanson of Otumoetai Intermediate School for Stumpy—in which an animated character shows us sustainability choices can be made in everyday things like going shopping and watching TV. Watch here.
The Outlook for Someday is a partnership between Connected Media, The Enviroschools Foundation, WWF New Zealand (Project Partners) and TVNZ 6 (Screen Partner).
Project Sponsors are New Zealand Post and The Body Shop New Zealand. Project Supporters are the Levi’s Stores, Trade Aid, Corporate Consumables, South Seas Film & Television School, Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand, tv/e, Waxeye, The Church, Good Magazine, Tearaway Magazine, Upstart Magazine, Interface Magazine , iServe, 72dpi and Lothlorien Feijoa Juice.
