Beach
films win top awards
By
Laura Goolsby
On-line Forty-Niner
Two
films by Cal State Long Beach students were
finalists and one received top honors at
the 2003 Media Arts Festival, held last
weekend at CSU Channel Islands.
Out
of 198 entries and 22 finalists from throughout
the CSU system, Brian Fischer's film "L'Histoire
de Billy Matter" won Best in Show,
Audience Choice and first place in the narrative
category. Oliver DeFilippo's film "System"
placed second in the narrative category.
"It
was a really nice moment when I won,"
said Fischer. "I didn't have a speech
prepared, though. I was surprised. I didn't
think it was going to win at all."
The
festival, which is under the umbrella of
the CSU Summer Arts program, is intended
to reward excellent student filmmakers and
help them break into the film industry,
according to Joanne Bartok, assistant director
of summer arts.
"The
festival does two different things,"
said Bartok. "First is the competition
angle but, secondly, it really does help
the students break into the industry."
Finalists
could attend one of 16 seminars relating
to the movie business while making contacts
among the judges, who included a manager,
a director of photography and a producer,
said Bartok.
"L'Histoire
de Billy Matter," which Fischer describes
as "the story of a boy, his time portal,
and the plastic lobster he loved,"
impressed the judges enough both technically
and artistically to merit Best in Show.
"The
judges are looking for a lot of things,"
said Bartok. "All of the basics like
technical merit have to be there. The bottom
line, though, is which one entertains you.
Which one do you want to take home and show
your family tonight? It has to be compelling."
For
Fischer, the best part of the festival was
winning the Audience Choice award.
"I
was really surprised," said Fischer.
"Cal State LA brought over 50 people.
It was cool because they must have jumped
ship to vote for my film."
DeFilippo
and Fischer, who are friends, graduated
last May from CSULB with bachelor's degrees
in film and electronic arts. Their films
were student projects that were then submitted
by the school to the Media Arts program.
Both
students acknowledged that it might be awkward
competing for the same award with a friend.
"Its
cool," said DeFilippo, whose film "System"
is about the future of capital punishment.
"I'd rather be against someone from
our school. As long as it stays at our school
I'm happy."
CSULB
students have won the narrative category
for the past several years, so DeFilippo
and Fischer are continuing a long tradition
of filmmaking excellence.
"Faculty
from the CSU system picked only 22 finalists,"
said Bartok. "They are raising the
bar. The projects had to be that much better
this year to make the finals."
Fischer
and DeFilippo have continued to do work
in the film industry since graduation. Fischer
has gripped on a few films and continues
to write, while DeFilippo works as a production
assistant. Both students credit childhood
experiences with their status as filmmakers
now.
"I
had a really strong art background,"
said DeFilippo. "I just figured, why
draw one thing when I can film a bunch of
things and tell a story at the same time."
What
it comes down to, though, is a love for
film.
"I
grew up watching a lot of movies,"
said Fischer. "I still do."
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