(Keira Prazanowski)
The final votes have been tallied and the winners selected for the Never Stop Creating competition, hosted by the Central Coast Film Society. Awards were presented in the categories of film, photography and media. This was the first year for the event, which was held virtually due to COVID-19.
“The past year these student creators have endured the unthinkable with lockdowns, remote classes and canceled events from school to sports and recreation,” said Raiza Giorgi, president of the Central Coast Film Society. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to do something positive.
“This competition gave them an opportunity for a creative [outlet] for all those feelings bottled up. And wow, we saw just incredible work.”
The challenge covers all aspects of film, digital media arts, and podcasting, including:
Film Challenge
Digital Media Arts – Podcasting Challenge
Digital Media Arts – Screenwriting/Storytelling Challenge
Digital Media Arts – Photography Challenge
Digital Media Arts – Highlight Reel Challenge (Editing, Acting, Short/Long Form Digital Content)
All students who submitted their films or creative works received constructive feedback from the Central Coast Film Society Board members, and were eligible for entry in the Never Stop Creating Student Showcase.
Finalists in the online Never Stop Creating Student Showcase, May 1-2, had their work reviewed by a panel of judges from the industry and academia to earn awards for excellence and available $100 scholarships for each category.
Showcase attendees also had an opportunity to vote for their overall favorite works to determine the People’s Choice Award, worth an additional $100 scholarship.
The judges were Randi Barros, of Cal Poly’s Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts; Skye McLennan, festival director for the SLO Film Festival; Ken Napzok, podcastor, author, YouTube producer and host; Sheryl Franciskovich, publisher/creative director for SLO LIFE Magazine; Chris Lambert, creator of “Your Own Backyard” podcast and freelance journalist; Josh Ernstrom, digital media producer for PG&E; and Chris Burkard, international photographer and filmmaker.
Following are the winners in their categories:
Overall Excellence (scholarship winners):
Category: Film
‘Brain Dead” — Ian Hammons, San Luis Obispo High School
Category: Photography
Shadow Fork Photography — Keira Prazanowski, Central Coast New Tech High School
Category: Screenwriting/Storytelling
“Kingdom of Happy Fallacies” — Ian McKay, San Luis Obispo High School
Category: Film Editing/Reel
“Quinn’s 2020 VFX Reel” — Quinn Stacy, Dunn School
Category: Podcasting
“In These Trying Times” — Zarian Schick, Douglas Troy, San Luis Obispo High School
Awards in Excellence
Category: Film
Excellence in Art Direction (Creativity & Execution)
“Life is Beautiful” — Ella Stoneman, Morro Bay High School
Excellence in Directing/Writing
“Kingdom of Happy Fallacies” — Ian McKay, San Luis Obispo High School
Excellence in Cinematography/Editing
“An Unwelcome Host” — Maximilian Martin, Central Coast New Tech High School
Category: Photography
Excellence in Creativity
“Metamorphosis, Self Portrait” — Linnaea Marks, San Luis Obispo High School
Excellence in Composition
“Rainy Day – Neo Cortez” — Central Coast New Tech High School
Excellence in Direction
“The Light in the Dark” — Emory Wishon, Morro Bay High School
Category: Screenwriting/Storytelling
Excellence in Characters & Dialogue
“Little John Screenplay” — Jordyn Rae, Ernest Righetti High School
Excellence in Concept/Originality
“An Escape” — Olivia Brumit, Morro Bay High School
Excellence in Plot/Structure
“Clear Bottle” — Reese Demarest, Morro Bay High School
Category: Film Editing/Reel
Excellence in Art Direction (Creativity & Execution)
“MIND” — Keira Prazanwoski, Central Coast New Tech High School
Best in Show (People’s Choice)
“Metamorphosis, Self-Portrait” — Linnaea Marks, San Luis Obispo High School
Best in Show (Central Coast Film Society Board Choice)
Scholarship provided by The Good People Association
“Life is Beautiful” — Ella Stoneman, Morro Bay High School
For more about the Central Coast Film Society, visit www.centralcoastfilmsociety.org.