MAP students attend annual film festival

Get the tape rolling and let the festivities begin. Each year, the Cinequest Institute, a Silicon Valley-based company, hosts a film festival lasting 13 days. For several years, sophomores and juniors from the Media Arts Program have made a day trip to visit the festival.

This year, the festival will take place from Feb. 28 to March 11. In the past, students have participated in short film viewings, where all the pieces shown revolve around one central theme. These sessions last several hours, with each shown movie no longer than 20 minutes.

There are a wide variety of films showcased in the sessions, from both amateur and professional filmmakers’ works from all over the world, each with its own style and inner message.

“I definitely walked away with a different, broader view of what types of artistic films exist and the flexibility that comes with creative license,” senior Jocelyn Takahashi, who attended Cinequest in 2010 said. “After going to Cinequest, I looked at student made film projects differently.”

Cinequest was Takahashi’s first film festival, and it exposed her to a variety of film styles.

One short film made an impression upon her because it was full of close-up shots that showed the texture of everything. According to the producer, it was intended to show the world from the view of someone with a mental disorder. Takahashi feels that after seeing all the films, she was inspired by how the producer chose each of the shots.

Exposure to such unique works gave Takahashi a new perspective on film making.

“There was something about noticing the style of the shorts and then talking to the directors afterwards that really resonated within me,” she said.

Aside from simply watching, students also are given the opportunity to interact with real directors in informative workshops.

“The Cinequest workshops are usually with professional filmmakers who talk with the audience or give demonstrations about the unique things that they are doing with their craft,” MAP coordinator Kerry Mohnike said.

The workshop that students attended last year was about visual effects and technical components of 3D filming. The speaker was Jon Chu, the director of the movie “G.I. Joe.”

Takahashi remembers learning about a special high tech camera called the “Red One” from filmmakers Obin and Amariah Olson during her visit. The workshop with the Olsons gave students a sense of what it takes to make a great film, according to participants.

The audience was shown the way the brothers used the green screen and edited their clips, Takahashi said.

“Students were able to see the Olson brothers speak about creating a full length action adventure using [computer-generated imagery] and other technology,” Mohnike said.

Although Takahashi did not have access to the advanced technology the Olsons used, the workshop was her favorite part of the festival.

“It was the first time I comprehended the power that technology and graphics had and how it applied to cinema,” Takahashi said.

The festival is full of learning experiences, not only for students, but also for teachers, who find themselves learning more and more each year.

“I know that I have learned new things and been exposed to many new things that help to keep MAP staff pushing for improved student learning in the media field,” Mohnike said.

This year, many students will again have the opportunity to expand their horizons.

“I was very impressed by Cinequest,” Takahashi said. “It was really interesting to go see and experience.”