Students Compete in Filmmaking

8 June 2011 Students Compete in Filmmaking

Later this month, four HWS students will participate in a 24-hour student filmmaking competition as part of The Lake Placid Film Forum. An annual event, the forum exhibits a series of films, often including appearances by the filmmakers and cast members. Brian Augustus 12, Lawrence Gregorek 11, Julia Hershey 11 and Andrew Upton 12 will compete. Marilyn Jimenez, an associate professor of African studies who teaches in the Media and Society Department, and Professor of Media and Society Linda Robertson will accompany the students as advisers. This is the first time HWS students have participated in the competition and the funding for the trip to Lake Placid comes in part from the Classes of 1959 Fund for HWS.

We found out about the competition through an acquaintance of [Professor of Media and Society] Lester Friedman, explains Jimenez. We contacted a number of students whom we thought would have the skills and motivation for the project.

Referred to as Sleepless in Lake Placid, the student filmmaking competition was first included in the forum in 2006 for college students enrolled in film school. According to organizers, the competition was highly successful and drew more attention each subsequent year. This years competition takes place June 17. The teams will be given a set of elements or criteria that they must include in the making of a 4-9 minute film, which includes using Lake Placid as a setting. They also get to choose from a cast of professional actors to use in their film. They then have 24 hours to shoot, edit and output the film. The films are then judged by a panel. As adviser, Jimenezs role will be limited to providing technical support.

The Lake Placid Film Forum is an annual event, co-founded in 2000 by author Russell Banks, former New York Daily News Critic Kathleen Carroll and artist Naj Wikoff. It was recently included as one of MovieMakers Magazines 25 Coolest Film Festivals. The magazine notes, Martin Scorsese, Jon Favreau and Steve Buscemi have all been guests.

The Forum is a place where people who are passionate about films can meet and learn from each other, says famed author-and Forum co-founder-Russell Banks.