Students and family from all of Gilbert Public School’s five comprehensive high schools gathered in the Gilbert High auditorium, awaiting a viewing of this year’s high school …
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Students and family from all of Gilbert Public School’s five comprehensive high schools gathered in the Gilbert High auditorium, awaiting a viewing of this year’s high school students’ Film Fest videos.
This was the third annual GPS Film Fest. Fifty-one student videos were submitted and viewed, with participants from all five of GPS’s comprehensive high schools, and almost two hours worth of video content for the event May 6.
The Film Fest was created to promote high school videography Career and Technical Education courses — showing off the students’ work to a wider audience in the hopes of encouraging other students to join the following year.
With sponsors and judges from various creative and technical disciplines across the state, the fest judging process allowed students to have their work reviewed by specialists in their field.
The evening event also allowed competitors the chance to experience their work amidst a live audience of family, fellow students and GPS staff, understanding the difference between creating art for in-person versus digital consumption.
Enthusiasm for the event from teachers and students has grown over the past three years and many students have submitted their work each year. Some projects even brought students from different schools together.
David Holguin, a junior at Mesquite High and director of "8ball," which won Audience Choice, Best Short Film, and Best Cinematography, was beaming after receiving his awards.
“It’s great that the film festival lets me show my creativity and passion for video production," Holguin said. "Getting awards for doing what I love might be the best feeling."
Holguin's passion for film started at a young age, heightening the honor of receiving these awards.
“When I was a little kid all I did was collect DVDs and VHS," he said. "All I wanted to do was watch movies and record my own. Doing that, I was able to learn from the best.”
The winners:
Best Short Film: "8ball" by David Holguin;
Second Place Short Film: "Unraveling" the Secrets of Cyber Security by Nico Miranda;
Second Place Short Film: "The Jaguar — Behind the Scenes" by Drew Jury;
Third Place Short Film: "Outside His Room" by Jordan Callison;
Best Ad/Promo: "I’M BATMAN." by Nathan Bress;
Best Newscast: Highland Production Video by Max Bedell;
Best Social Video: Nepal Trip Video by Paige Stephens;
Best Music Video: "The Jaguar" by Drew Jury;
Best Sports Reel: Football Preseason Hype Video by Nico Miranda;
Audience Choice: "8ball" by David Holguin;
Best Actor/Actress: Tara Blankenship and Sadie Mclesky for "Amway College";
Best Director: Thomas Wudel for "The Clones";
Best Cinematography: David Holguin for "8ball";
Best Editing: Nico Miranda for "Unraveling the Secrets of Cyber Security";
Best Visual/Special Effects: Drew Jury for "The Jaguar":
Best Sound Design: Nathan Bress for "500 Words";
Best News Anchor/Reporter: Jacob Frederics for "Fallen Angel Project";
