Three short films from the Advanced Studio in Video class at Niskayuna High School were selected (out of a total of 17) as finalists in the 1^st annual “Peoples Pixel Project” sponsored by the Lake George Arts Project.

Last fall, a call for video entries 3 to 5 minutes long was placed to anyone living within 75 miles of Lake George, NY. From these entries three awards were selected for each of 6 categories. Awards will be screened on Saturday, February 6, 2010, 7 pm at Rock Hill Bakehouse Cafe, 19 Exchange Street, Glens Falls.

The three finalists from Niskayuna High School that were selected from the dozens of short films submitted from around the region are: A Work in Progress, Roberry, and Talk to the Hand.

A Work in Progress, directed by Mark Stenson, Peter Koehler, and Ryan Nerney tells the tale of two teenage boys trying to come up with an idea for their next film.  The problem is they just can’t seem to get the character “right”.  The film evolves in a creative manner all while developing a story that’s “a work in progress”.  This film opened up Niskayuna High School’s “SHORT CUTS 8” film festival last June.

The production team that created the multi-award-winning stop-action short, Tom Lamanna’s Breakfast, now gives the northern region of the state to enjoy their latest project entitled, Roberry.  Roberry tells the story of a young man robbing his neighbor’s house for ingredients for a blueberry pie and the obstacles he encounters on his quest.  The film was directed and produced by James Belcastro and Matt Cioffi.  This film won the “Best Animation” prize at the Westport Youth Film Festival last spring as well as being screened at the CineYouth Festival in Chicago.

Chris Murphy’s film – Talk to the Hand – is the third entry from the NHS Advanced Video class to be selected as a finalist in this new festival.  Talk to the Hand is a still-frame animated short which features two friends and their unusual encounter with a new kid at school.  This film received the “Best Animation” award at the prestigious CineYouth Festival that is part of the Chicago International Film Festival.  Mr. Murphy’s film also received accolades for “Best Editing” and an “Honorable Mention” in the Narrative Comedy category at last spring’s Capital Region Media Arts Festival and was included in the juried Westport Youth Film Festival.

Tickets are $10. Seating is very limited, so buy tickets early – they are going fast!  To purchase tickets call LGAP: (518) 668-2616, or Rock Hill Bakehouse: (518) 615-0777.  All entries for P3 can be viewed at the Lake George Arts Project, 1 Amherst St, Lake George, NY, where a continuous loop will be on view during gallery hours throughout the month of February.  The award finalists will also be on view in the lobby of Aimee’s Dinner Theater from February 2^nd – 12^th.

For more information about the festival contact:

LAKE GEORGE ARTS PROJECT
1 Amherst Street
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 668-2616
mail@lakegeorgearts.org

Still from Chris Perrella's Checkers

YOUNG COMPUTER ANIMATOR CONTINUES TO SHINE!

Niskayuna High School student animator selected to be part of international television program.

One of Niskayuna High School’s outstanding student computer animators, Chris Perrella, has had two of his short films selected to be showcased on Season 5 of the Poughkeepsie based program – DROP TV.

DROP TV is a magazine-style series of half hour episodes packed with high energy segments made for youth, by youth.  The series is produced in conjunction with the Children’s Media Project’s Media Guild program.

CMP’s youth producers, on all levels of Media Guild, contribute to the creation of DROP TV. During the summer months and after school, Media Guild apprentices, under professional and peer mentorship, engage in all aspects of pre-productions, production, and post- productions for DROP TV: research, writing, scheduling, camera, sound, lighting, acting, graphic design, animation, editing, composition, and sound mixing.

DROP TV highlights short youth-produced videos made by DROP TV producers as well as work from other young videomakers from around the world. DROP TV producers receive hundreds of videos made by youth every year. From these submissions they choose the best short works to share with DROP TV audiences. Some organizations that frequently highlight the show include: Reel Grrls, Perpich Center For Art Education, Bay Area Video Coalition, Say Si, SAF Cakovec, and Camera Etc.

For Season 5, the DROP TV staff chose two of Niskayuna High School computer animator, Chris Perrella’s short films, Didget and the WooNads and Checkers.

Didget and the WooNads tells the story of a robot with a unique vision who struggles in an environment that demands conformity.  This short 3-D animated film has been showcased in numerous film festivals throughout the country including: The Capital Region Media Arts Festival 2008 (Best Animation – Computer Based), Reel Teens USA Film Festival (Official Selection), Rod Serling Video Festival 2007 (Best Animation), Woodstock International Film Festival 2008 (Official Selection), and the Electric City Film Festival 2008 (Finalist).

Mr. Perrella’s other film, Checkers, tells the story of Earth checker champion, Johnny Fischer who is challenged to an out of this world match with some unexpected results.  This film has received accolades and awards in the Ballston Spa Film Festival 2009 (Best High School Film), Rod Serling Video Festival 2008 (Best Animation), Reel Teens USA Film Festival 2008 (Best Computer Animation), Fulton Montgomery Community College High School Regional (Best Digital Media).

Chris plans on attending Savannah College of Art and Design in the Fall to pursue his education in the field of Interactive design and game development.

DROP TV can be seen locally on Schenectady Public Access TV-16: Saturdays at 8:00am.

For more information on DROP TV and the work of Chris Perrella check out the following websites:

• http://www.chrisperrella.com/site/Home.html
• http://www.childrensmediaproject.org
• http://youthmedia.blip.tv/

Short Cuts 8

Niskayuna High School’s annual student film festival returns to the G.E. Theater at Proctors in Downtown Schenectady.

The Niskayuna High School Art Department presents SHORT CUTS 8: a video celebration showcasing outstanding student productions from the 2008-2009 school year on WEDNESDAY JUNE 3rd at 7 PM at the G.E. Theater at Proctors.

Over 25 short films from students in Mr. Honicki’s Studio in Video program will be screened as part of this 8th annual event – including award-winning entries from the Reel Teens USA Festival. Rod Serling Film Festival, Capital Region Media Arts Festival, and Westport Youth Film Festival.

This year’s festival features the award-winning short film, Talk to the Hand, created by Christopher Murphy using stiff frame animation.  Murphy’s comedy short just received the prestigious “Best in Show” award at this year’s Rod Serling Video Festival. The film also received accolades for “Best Editing” and an “Honorable Mention” in the Narrative Comedy category at this year’s Capital Region Media Arts Festival.  Talk to the Hand tells the story of two friends and their unusual encounter with a new kid at school.

Also included in this year’s line-up is the follow-up to the one of the most highly acclaimed films of last year – Tom Lamanna’s Breakfast.  Directed and produced by Electrical Banana Productions (James Belcastro and Matthew Cioffi), Roberry tells the story of a pie maker who resorts to stealing ingredients from his neighbor’s home in order make his tasty treat.  This film was awarded “Best Animation” at this year’s Westport Youth Film Festival.

Another highlight of this year’s festival is the short, An Orange In The Orchard.  When a young man’s in-class drawing is discovered by his teacher, he is forced to face the repetitive and dehumanizing nature of the environment.  Directed and written by senior Daniel Claridge, An Orange In The Orchard reminds us of the importance of individuality.

In addition to the film viewing, the event will also include the SHORTY AWARDS – recognizing outstanding achievement in student short films by the students themselves.

SHORT CUTS 8 is FREE and open to the public.  The G.E. Theater at Proctor’s is located at 432 State Street in Schenectady, NY.

This event is made possible by the Niskayuna High School PTO, Time Warner Cable’s “How Cool Is Your School” video competition and the generosity of Proctor’s Theater.

CONTACT: STEPHEN HONICKI