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Toronto Youth Shorts was lucky enough to sponsor the Toronto Student Film Festival last Friday night and let me tell you, these students did not disappoint. Taking place at the Isabel Bader Theatre on U of T Campus, the films ran the gamut of Canadian and international talent -- From macro-lens docs and experimental black and whites, to emotional looks into fictional and real lives alike. A personal fave was a claymation short by Australian filmmaker Carolyn Duchene titled Wanda. Wanda is a lipstick in want of a family. But where to find one?
Special mention goes out to the winners of the Best Toronto Award given out by Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival Director Henry Wong. Henry and the team couldn't decide on just one, so three of the local films were given official invitations into TYSFF:
1) Jessie MacAlpine: A Story of Youth and Science by Nicole Cedic
"The film focuses on Canadian science prodigy, Jessie MacAlpine. She has recently discovered an inexpensive treatment for Malaria and has filed for patent, the kicker being that she has accomplished all of this by the young age of 18. The fact that she is brilliant is amazing in its own right, but being a humanitarian is what makes her story especially unique."
2) Criterion by Dylan Vogel
A black and white experimental film that has already won National Gold Medal and Best in Grade 11 at the 2014 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Best Animation in the TIFF 2014 Jump Cuts.
3) My Last Day at Work by Sean Singh
A look into the life of an ex-rail driver's heart-breaking experience with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety.
**SUBMISSIONS ARE STILL OPEN FOR TORONTO YOUTH SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2014. SUBMIT! SUMBIT! SUBMIT!**
- Maggie
Special mention goes out to the winners of the Best Toronto Award given out by Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival Director Henry Wong. Henry and the team couldn't decide on just one, so three of the local films were given official invitations into TYSFF:
1) Jessie MacAlpine: A Story of Youth and Science by Nicole Cedic
"The film focuses on Canadian science prodigy, Jessie MacAlpine. She has recently discovered an inexpensive treatment for Malaria and has filed for patent, the kicker being that she has accomplished all of this by the young age of 18. The fact that she is brilliant is amazing in its own right, but being a humanitarian is what makes her story especially unique."
2) Criterion by Dylan Vogel
A black and white experimental film that has already won National Gold Medal and Best in Grade 11 at the 2014 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Best Animation in the TIFF 2014 Jump Cuts.
3) My Last Day at Work by Sean Singh
A look into the life of an ex-rail driver's heart-breaking experience with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety.
**SUBMISSIONS ARE STILL OPEN FOR TORONTO YOUTH SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2014. SUBMIT! SUMBIT! SUBMIT!**
- Maggie
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Once again, in my capacity as the Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival Youth Outreach Coordinator, I had the opportunity to attend last week's York Finish Line screening for their third year students, and they certainly did not disappoint. While all the films clocked in at under 10 minutes, they varied widely in form from alternative and experimental fare, to fictional narratives and documentaries, eliciting tears, laughs, introspection, and gasps. Many of the films were deeply touching and stand among some of the best short film's I've seen, though two films in particular caught my attention.
The first came early in the screening with Ashlee Mitchell's Rhonda. A beautiful film named for the director's deceased mother, lovingly pieced together combining present day interviews with home video footage to create a careful tapestry of Rhonda's life as seen through her relationships with friends and family. While also leading the viewer on a daughter's quest to investigate her mother's identity.
The second film that stood out was Adrian Kieda's Seeing the Future. As someone whose eyesight recently, and dramatically declined, this documentary revealing the profitability of the eye care industry and the advances in natural eye healing was especially exciting. Though I immediately pulled my glasses off my face, the film never lost my attention. Finally, when Keida presented his significantly improved prescription after following his natural eye healing regimen, I was filled with hope for the potential improvement in my own eyes! Especially if it allows me to watch more great films!
- Lauren Coughlan
The first came early in the screening with Ashlee Mitchell's Rhonda. A beautiful film named for the director's deceased mother, lovingly pieced together combining present day interviews with home video footage to create a careful tapestry of Rhonda's life as seen through her relationships with friends and family. While also leading the viewer on a daughter's quest to investigate her mother's identity.
The second film that stood out was Adrian Kieda's Seeing the Future. As someone whose eyesight recently, and dramatically declined, this documentary revealing the profitability of the eye care industry and the advances in natural eye healing was especially exciting. Though I immediately pulled my glasses off my face, the film never lost my attention. Finally, when Keida presented his significantly improved prescription after following his natural eye healing regimen, I was filled with hope for the potential improvement in my own eyes! Especially if it allows me to watch more great films!
- Lauren Coughlan
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The team and I have been attending a number of student screenings the past couple of weeks, including those at York U, Ryerson, Humber, and U of T. There are a number of gems in the pack and I certainly hope we see more when we comb through our submissions pile (shameless plug though not really shameless since this is our blog: submissions deadline is next Friday!)
The most enjoyable entries in the fiction spectrum for me were those made by filmmakers who know how to direct actors. After five years of programming a short film festival by independent filmmakers and students, I find that the most awkward pieces of work us due to a neglect in the casting process. I know I spout this mantra quite often when giving tips on the T24 Project but it’s true. Directors need to cast actors for more than their look and actors need to know how to tone it down. A 1920x1080 frame is not a lot of space and one can easily become too showy in such a tight frame. Co-stars need to have chemistry and directors need to facilitate that by having scenes shot in a way where they are not constantly segregated from each other through the back and forth angle. One standout for me at Humber’s FMTV screening yesterday was “Something Like This” for they bypassed all the missteps I noted above. Unfortunately the programme doesn’t include the filmmakers’ names so I can’t tell you who directed it but if you’re the director and you’re reading this – kudos to you!
I’m going to be at York’s 4th Year Finish Line on Thursday but I did check out some shorts in the 2nd Year lineup and was impressed with a number of docs, particularly Colony Walk by Connor Johnstone and Interlude by Alannah Smith. Here we have simple stories that people can connect to due to some solid direction by the filmmakers, who were smart enough to employ more than just a talking head to do all the work for them.
One highlight at the U of T Film Festival is At The Kids’ Table, a foodie doc that acts as a follow up to the award-winning These Are The People In Your Neighbourhood. Working with the Madeleine Collective, Bazuin once again captures the heart and essence of a group of children as they explore a new community. Court by Madeleine Russo was also another fan favourite. Though these films were docs, the directors employed charismatic subjects, which is just as important as the talent of an actor for a fictional narrative.
Speaking of good child-like qualities in films, Sonia Beckwith-Cole’s The Lion at Home, shown at the Augmented Cinema Film Festival (a showcase for OCADU students and alumni) is hilarious. We mean, HI-LAR-I-OUS! Sometimes simple just works so well.
-Henry
The most enjoyable entries in the fiction spectrum for me were those made by filmmakers who know how to direct actors. After five years of programming a short film festival by independent filmmakers and students, I find that the most awkward pieces of work us due to a neglect in the casting process. I know I spout this mantra quite often when giving tips on the T24 Project but it’s true. Directors need to cast actors for more than their look and actors need to know how to tone it down. A 1920x1080 frame is not a lot of space and one can easily become too showy in such a tight frame. Co-stars need to have chemistry and directors need to facilitate that by having scenes shot in a way where they are not constantly segregated from each other through the back and forth angle. One standout for me at Humber’s FMTV screening yesterday was “Something Like This” for they bypassed all the missteps I noted above. Unfortunately the programme doesn’t include the filmmakers’ names so I can’t tell you who directed it but if you’re the director and you’re reading this – kudos to you!
I’m going to be at York’s 4th Year Finish Line on Thursday but I did check out some shorts in the 2nd Year lineup and was impressed with a number of docs, particularly Colony Walk by Connor Johnstone and Interlude by Alannah Smith. Here we have simple stories that people can connect to due to some solid direction by the filmmakers, who were smart enough to employ more than just a talking head to do all the work for them.
One highlight at the U of T Film Festival is At The Kids’ Table, a foodie doc that acts as a follow up to the award-winning These Are The People In Your Neighbourhood. Working with the Madeleine Collective, Bazuin once again captures the heart and essence of a group of children as they explore a new community. Court by Madeleine Russo was also another fan favourite. Though these films were docs, the directors employed charismatic subjects, which is just as important as the talent of an actor for a fictional narrative.
Speaking of good child-like qualities in films, Sonia Beckwith-Cole’s The Lion at Home, shown at the Augmented Cinema Film Festival (a showcase for OCADU students and alumni) is hilarious. We mean, HI-LAR-I-OUS! Sometimes simple just works so well.
-Henry
- Published on
TIFF Kids brings a range of films, exhibits, and workshops to entertain kids and parents.
TIFF continues to engage with children through the various events and programs they hold year-round. As technology evolves, children are becoming active users and TIFF provides an excellent platform for them to utilize their creativity and curiosity in a cinematic atmosphere.
The TIFF Kids International Film Festival takes place April 8-12 and offers a range of Canadian and international films that children can enjoy and relate to. Check out the trailer to view their excellent line up of films
The digiPlaySpace is another example of how TIFF engages and teaches children about emerging media technologies. The fun and interactive environment allows them to learn and share their artistic experience with family and friends.
It is great for kids to learn more about cinema and be interested in actively involving in some way. It contributes to their imagination and provides them with different perceptions. I hope that TIFF continues to extend their kids programming and I look forward to seeing what next year will bring.
- Michelle
TIFF continues to engage with children through the various events and programs they hold year-round. As technology evolves, children are becoming active users and TIFF provides an excellent platform for them to utilize their creativity and curiosity in a cinematic atmosphere.
The TIFF Kids International Film Festival takes place April 8-12 and offers a range of Canadian and international films that children can enjoy and relate to. Check out the trailer to view their excellent line up of films
The digiPlaySpace is another example of how TIFF engages and teaches children about emerging media technologies. The fun and interactive environment allows them to learn and share their artistic experience with family and friends.
It is great for kids to learn more about cinema and be interested in actively involving in some way. It contributes to their imagination and provides them with different perceptions. I hope that TIFF continues to extend their kids programming and I look forward to seeing what next year will bring.
- Michelle
- Published on
Spring is upon us, which means students are finishing up their yearly film projects and we'll be visiting the different schools to find some of the best short films of the year produced by young filmmakers in the GTA. It all starts next week with the U of T Film Festival (our programmer Julia will purposely miss the finale of How I Met Your Mother just to be there). York University's Finish Line is spread across multiple weeks in April. The Augmented Cinema Film Festival run by T24 Project veteran and 2014 audience choice winner, Jamie McMillan, and features work by students and alumni of OCAD is also in April and free to attend. The Zoom Film Festival, featuring high school films held at Earl Haig Secondary, takes place in May along with the Toronto Student Film Festival, where this year's winning entry from the T24 Project, Peaches, will play. The Ryerson University Film Festival will also be in May.
Do you have a screening you want us to attend? Let us know!
-Henry
Do you have a screening you want us to attend? Let us know!
-Henry
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So the 2014 T24 Project 24-hour film challenge is less than two weeks away and we wanted to offer some tips to all participating teams so you can create some great films that we are proud to showcase.
1) FORM A PROPER TEAM - Make sure you have a well-balanced team that can properly back you up, ESPECIALLY if you are new to the medium. Make sure that at least two out of the four people on the team understands the most basics of video technology, ESPECIALLY the post production side (half the game is in post-production). Having two people work on different sequences at once and then link up later can save you time.
Team members – don’t leave your Team Captain hanging. It’s only 24 hours, tough it out! Alternate in taking naps if you must but don't just abandon the game. Assign specific roles to each other and keep each other busy. The worst thing you can do is leave in the middle of the rush and have the captain go on auto-pilot solo. It has happened so many times and it always kill the vibe and hurt the product. Show your leader your dedication. Don't assume you're useless if you're not contributing on a technical level. Help out by brewing coffee or making runs to get some. Help feed the crew. Crack a joke to keep the energy going. Get some sleep so you can be the one alert enough to drive the team to drop off the film.
2) MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROPER ACTORS!!! This cannot be emphasized enough, The biggest cringe for most people when watching a film is bad acting. For the T24 Project, this is usually the result of a team with zero experience performing who underestimates the skill it takes to carry a narrative on screen. That being said, you don't need professional actors per se but those with experience and charisma on camera will take your film much further. If you choose to make that epic dramatic narrative with characters crying or professing their love for each other, make sure you have people that can REALLY sell those scenarios. Also, play the proper age. Nothing is more laugh worthy than seeing 20 year old kids trying to play roles meant for 40 year olds and it cheapens the film.
3) IT'S ALL ABOUT THE STORY - Work on the story and script! The first 3-5 hours should all be about writing. Yes, filmmaking is a huge technical exercise but this is a 24 hour challenge so a technical glitch here and there will be forgiven. But an unpolished and uninspiring story is not. A good story has subtext and meaning and it's the soul of any film, no matter how glossy it looks. A proper story will get you so much farther than fancy camera work or that pile of special effects. A strong performance or solid script has nudged previous juries to award a film over another before, despite being "technically inferior".
4) GET THE PROPER EQUIPMENT - The great thing about the T24 Project challenge is that one doesn't require super fancy equipment but you do require the basic necessities, which are: a camera (duh!), preferably one that has an audio input jack of some kind and a microphone of some kind. Anything else like lenses and fancy lights are nice-to-haves instead of must-haves (though it will be very helpful to have some lamps and some white bristol board to bounce things off and these things are easily acquirable). Cameras need not be expensive or fancy. You can still tell a good story whether you're using an iPhone, DSLRs, or RED. Just know the limits so you don't hit a pothole during production.
That being said, if you plan on recording audio of any kind, it is HIGHLY recommended you use a microphone and NOT the one on board the camera or computer. Though a quality mic will get you better results, even ANY cheap microphone you can get at a computer store or the dollar store will be better than no mic. Whether it be live dialogue or voiceover, DO NOT record any audio using the camera's on board mic. Attach something, ANYTHING! Use your uncle's karaoke mic if you have to but use SOMETHING. Earphones/earbuds will also help you monitor sound levels while recording so you end up with fewer ugly surprises during post.
5) LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - The T24 Project challenges filmmakers to be creative with your surroundings and the exercise as a whole is meant to showcase various aspects of the city. Having your entire film take place inside your house, apartment, or condo defeats this purpose. Yes, it is a safe and convenient choice but it's also incredibly boring unless you have a really good story to tell. Scout for interesting locations that you can use at night (remember, most of your shooting time will be dark). It's a great opportunity for you and eventually the audience to explore the city. If you MUST set it inside your house, give the audience, the festival staff and the jury a really good reason why we need to be inside your house.
That being said, be respectful of other's property. And because it is winter, weather and road conditions can be crazy. Be safe and don't do anything to risk your health. A film is not worth getting hurt over.
6) SCHEDULING - You should properly map out how much time you need for certain tasks. Account for editing time - A LOT of editing time (half the game is in post). DO NOT assume editing will be a breeze and will be done quickly. Account for time to export and test your file properly. And make sure you account for travel time, especially if you’re coming far from the drop site or if you’re terrible with directions! Traffic is not a valid excuse for being late. A group from previous years didn’t map out the drop site beforehand. They drove around the block 5 times looking for the building. They were two minutes late. On that note, having a powerful laptop that you can use for editing/exporting would be much more convenient due to its mobility than a stationed desktop machine.
7) HAVE FUN! We’ve had films where despite being incomplete or out of the running, they were great examples of how much fun the team had when they made it and that energy transfers to an audience watching it, making the screening an enjoyable experience. As much as it is a challenge, we want you to have fun when participating and making your film.
The deadline to register is Sunday, January 12, 2014. Good luck during the challenge. May the Force be with you or may the odds be ever in your favour!
1) FORM A PROPER TEAM - Make sure you have a well-balanced team that can properly back you up, ESPECIALLY if you are new to the medium. Make sure that at least two out of the four people on the team understands the most basics of video technology, ESPECIALLY the post production side (half the game is in post-production). Having two people work on different sequences at once and then link up later can save you time.
Team members – don’t leave your Team Captain hanging. It’s only 24 hours, tough it out! Alternate in taking naps if you must but don't just abandon the game. Assign specific roles to each other and keep each other busy. The worst thing you can do is leave in the middle of the rush and have the captain go on auto-pilot solo. It has happened so many times and it always kill the vibe and hurt the product. Show your leader your dedication. Don't assume you're useless if you're not contributing on a technical level. Help out by brewing coffee or making runs to get some. Help feed the crew. Crack a joke to keep the energy going. Get some sleep so you can be the one alert enough to drive the team to drop off the film.
2) MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROPER ACTORS!!! This cannot be emphasized enough, The biggest cringe for most people when watching a film is bad acting. For the T24 Project, this is usually the result of a team with zero experience performing who underestimates the skill it takes to carry a narrative on screen. That being said, you don't need professional actors per se but those with experience and charisma on camera will take your film much further. If you choose to make that epic dramatic narrative with characters crying or professing their love for each other, make sure you have people that can REALLY sell those scenarios. Also, play the proper age. Nothing is more laugh worthy than seeing 20 year old kids trying to play roles meant for 40 year olds and it cheapens the film.
3) IT'S ALL ABOUT THE STORY - Work on the story and script! The first 3-5 hours should all be about writing. Yes, filmmaking is a huge technical exercise but this is a 24 hour challenge so a technical glitch here and there will be forgiven. But an unpolished and uninspiring story is not. A good story has subtext and meaning and it's the soul of any film, no matter how glossy it looks. A proper story will get you so much farther than fancy camera work or that pile of special effects. A strong performance or solid script has nudged previous juries to award a film over another before, despite being "technically inferior".
4) GET THE PROPER EQUIPMENT - The great thing about the T24 Project challenge is that one doesn't require super fancy equipment but you do require the basic necessities, which are: a camera (duh!), preferably one that has an audio input jack of some kind and a microphone of some kind. Anything else like lenses and fancy lights are nice-to-haves instead of must-haves (though it will be very helpful to have some lamps and some white bristol board to bounce things off and these things are easily acquirable). Cameras need not be expensive or fancy. You can still tell a good story whether you're using an iPhone, DSLRs, or RED. Just know the limits so you don't hit a pothole during production.
That being said, if you plan on recording audio of any kind, it is HIGHLY recommended you use a microphone and NOT the one on board the camera or computer. Though a quality mic will get you better results, even ANY cheap microphone you can get at a computer store or the dollar store will be better than no mic. Whether it be live dialogue or voiceover, DO NOT record any audio using the camera's on board mic. Attach something, ANYTHING! Use your uncle's karaoke mic if you have to but use SOMETHING. Earphones/earbuds will also help you monitor sound levels while recording so you end up with fewer ugly surprises during post.
5) LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - The T24 Project challenges filmmakers to be creative with your surroundings and the exercise as a whole is meant to showcase various aspects of the city. Having your entire film take place inside your house, apartment, or condo defeats this purpose. Yes, it is a safe and convenient choice but it's also incredibly boring unless you have a really good story to tell. Scout for interesting locations that you can use at night (remember, most of your shooting time will be dark). It's a great opportunity for you and eventually the audience to explore the city. If you MUST set it inside your house, give the audience, the festival staff and the jury a really good reason why we need to be inside your house.
That being said, be respectful of other's property. And because it is winter, weather and road conditions can be crazy. Be safe and don't do anything to risk your health. A film is not worth getting hurt over.
6) SCHEDULING - You should properly map out how much time you need for certain tasks. Account for editing time - A LOT of editing time (half the game is in post). DO NOT assume editing will be a breeze and will be done quickly. Account for time to export and test your file properly. And make sure you account for travel time, especially if you’re coming far from the drop site or if you’re terrible with directions! Traffic is not a valid excuse for being late. A group from previous years didn’t map out the drop site beforehand. They drove around the block 5 times looking for the building. They were two minutes late. On that note, having a powerful laptop that you can use for editing/exporting would be much more convenient due to its mobility than a stationed desktop machine.
7) HAVE FUN! We’ve had films where despite being incomplete or out of the running, they were great examples of how much fun the team had when they made it and that energy transfers to an audience watching it, making the screening an enjoyable experience. As much as it is a challenge, we want you to have fun when participating and making your film.
The deadline to register is Sunday, January 12, 2014. Good luck during the challenge. May the Force be with you or may the odds be ever in your favour!