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Alamogordo German School Takes Best of Festival Prize at Desert Light Film Festival Desert Light Film Festival brought over 140 film students and teachers together on the NMSU Alamogordo campus on Friday, April 29. "This is a special film festival designed for high school and middle school students," said Joan Griggs festival director for Desert Light. "We limit the competition to students from New Mexico. This year was another fantastic festival with new schools participating. Students from the Alamogordo German School were surprised by the judges who awarded them the Best of Festival award. Even though this school entered Desert Light Film Festival for the first time this year, they walked away with the First Place awards in Animation and Music Video, two of the most competitive categories, as well as the Best of Festival award. The Pro-Tech division at NMSUA, under the direction of Bryan Yancey, presented the team of filmmakers with an IPOD and with a movie poster designed by James Scharmack. This movie theater size poster portrays a scene from their winning music video entry titled "There Ain't No Rest for the Wicked." Students, including producer David Thees, beamed as they collected their awards on stage and as they viewed their video, shown during the Awards Ceremony. "We are proud to have JC Penney Company Fund, Inc as our official corporate sponsor, and we especially appreciate our new local Penneys manager Alan Mendoza," Griggs said. "Penneys makes it possible to produce this festival and to give out cash prizes that in turn help students fund their filmmaking. We had 112 films competing this year. The films were submitted from schools including Alamogordo High School, Alamogordo German School, Mayfield High School, Sierra Middle School and the Albuquerque based Public Academy for the Performing Arts and DATA Charter School. Two new middle schools participating included Picacho Middle School in Las Cruces and Mountain View Middle School in Alamogordo." Dr. Phil Lewis, Creative Media Institute Director at New Mexico State University, opened his morning seminar by showing clips from various Experimental Films. Students learned about combining media, and what makes an abstract film. He entertained and answered questions about this new category. He also served as judge for Experimental Film. The Alamogordo Optimist Club provided funding for prizes in this new category. The First Prize Award for Experimental Film at the high school level went to Taylor Roundtree, Jocelyn Rose, and Sierra Anaya from Alamogordo High School for their film, "Perception." John Cowart represented the Optimist Club and presented them with the $100 prize. Students also participated in other seminars, including Special Effects Makeup for Film, Final Cut Pro editing program and Maya Animation. NMSU Alamogordo instructors included Connie Breding, Sara Irving, and James Scharmack. Ranger Kathy Denton, White Sands National Monument, provided a new seminar on filming at White Sands, and Bill McCamey taught a seminar called "Pyrotechnic Special Effects." The Awards Ceremony Friday afternoon was preceded by a reception in the new NMSUA Art Gallery and lobby. "The Cloudcroft Light Opera Company was proud to sponsor the reception this year," said Otero County Film Liaison and festival co-director Jan Wafful. "CLOC looks for ways to support youth in the community and this year they found the funds to sponsor this film education event." Felix Wolters from the Alamogordo German School won First Place in Animation for his film "A Different Pinocchio." In addition to the $100 prize from JC Penneys, Sony Pictures Imageworks has awarded a very special prize: a trip to their studios in Albuquerque to observe and job shadow their animators plus an invitation to join their animators for the official Green Lantern VFX Wrap Party and crew screening of "Green Lantern," a blockbuster movie which will release this June. Alan Mendoza was on stage during the Awards Ceremony to present the Penneys award checks. Documentaries about two local landmarks were winners this year. Honorable Mention went to Hunter Niffenegger for his documentary about the apple industry in Mountain Park and "The Apple Barn." First Prize went to Parker Thomas, Tim Anderson and Ray Payne for their documentary "The Haunting at 1309," which detailed the history of the original hospital in Alamogordo. Kaylie Carlson from Alamogordo won First Place in High School Tourism Commercial, judged by the Alamogordo Promotion Board. Cameron McCloud, Rylee Agulto, and Joshua Jarrell won Honorable Mention for their music video, "Smile." Desert Light Film Festival is a project which is directed by NMSU Alamogordo and the Otero County Film Office, a division of the Otero County Economic Development Council, and supported by a committee which includes, Jan Wafful, Joan Griggs, Jesse Casto, Bryan Yancey, Bruce Martin, Ranger Rebecca Wiles, Christa Haynes and Mike Espiritu. For more pictures, log on to www.filmotero.com . Local businesses which supported this festival include JC Penney, Desert Sun Motors, CLOC, WalMart, Lowes CLOC and the Alamogordo Optimist Club. Many thanks go to the NMSUA staff and to all those who helped judge the films.
Festival Directors
Call for Entries Now Open for 2011 Desert Light Film Competition The Desert Light Film organizers are searching for New Mexico high school and middle school students to participate in the 2011 Desert Light Film Competition on Friday, April 29, 2011. Presented by New Mexico State University Alamogordo and the Otero County Film Office, and sponsored by JC Penney, this competition will give you an opportunity to showcase your work, compete for prizes, and participate in seminars designed for young filmmakers. Desert Light is open to all New Mexico high school and middle school students, including students who attend public, private or charter schools, or who are home schooled. This festival is designed for any student who has an interest in film making. A new category is announced for the 2011 competition and it is Experimental Film! The definition will be found in the description of categories, but this is a challenging, non-traditional area. We hope many students will make a creative attempt. Other categories include narrative, documentary, animation, music video and the New Mexico Tourism 30-second commercial. The criteria for all categories include production quality, creativity, originality, resourcefulness and entertainment value. Sponsored by JC Penney through the JCPenney Foundation, Desert Light offers prizes in every category. First Place awards are $100 each. Honorable Mention awards are $50 each. Local JC Penneys store manager Jesse Casto will be on hand to personally present the awards for the winning films. Seminars this year will include Final Cut Pro, special effects makeup for film, and production techniques. Other seminars will be announced. A special Film Briefing with Ranger Kathy Denton has been arranged at the White Sands National Monument following the Awards Ceremony. Whenever professionals come to film at the Monument, they have certain procedures to follow before they arrive, and while they are filming. This interactive briefing will teach you much about the protocol of filming in national parks and working with other agencies. Students will arrive at the White Sands before sunset, and then be able to film some fabulous footage. This is a very special opportunity to spend several hours at one of the sites kept especially for filming. This event is open just to students and teachers attending the Desert Light Film Festival. Organizers of the 2011 Desert Light Film Competition include K. Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison; Jesse Casto, store manager for JC Penney; Bryan Yancey, ProTech division head at NMSU Alamogordo; Ranger Kathy Denton, Education and Interpretation specialist at White Sands National Monument; Rebecca Price, Otero County Economic Development Council executive assistant; Joan Griggs, festival director from NMSU Alamogordo; and Dr. Bruce Martin and Donna Cook, NMSU Alamogordo. Submit films anytime from now until Friday, March 11, 2011. Entries should be mailed to the Otero County Film Office, 1301 N. White Sands Blvd., Alamogordo, NM 88310. Each entry requires a $5 entry fee. The entry form now includes a "Use of Submissions" form to be signed by students over 18. Parents or teachers may sign for students under 18. All forms, including the form explaining the Entry Rules, information about Judging and Awards, and Description of Categories will soon be available on the Film Otero website www.filmotero.com . They have also been attached for your convenience. For more information, contact K. Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison at jan@filmotero.com or JoanGriggs at jgriggs@nmsua.nmsu.edu. We also have a facebook page where you can contact us. Look us up at Desert Light Film Competition! Click here to download the 2011 Entry Rules Click here to download the 2011 Entry Form Click here to download what will be judged in the category: Animation Click here to download what will be judged in the category: Documentary Click here to download what will be judged in the category: Experimental Click here to download what will be judged in the category: Music Video Click here to download what will be judged in the category: Narrative Click here to download what will be judged in the category: Tourism Commerical _____________________________________________________________________________________
Call for Entries is now open for the 2010 Desert Light Film Competition The Desert Light Film organizers are searching for New Mexico high school and middle school students to participate in the 2010 Desert Light Film Competition on Friday, April 30, 2010. Presented by New Mexico State University Alamogordo and the Otero County Film Office, and sponsored by JC Penney, this competition will give students an opportunity to showcase their work, compete for prizes, and participate in seminars designed for young filmmakers. The competition concludes with a full day festival, held on the NMSU Alamogordo campus. Students come from throughout New Mexico to learn and to view student films. More than 50 student films will be showcased this year. According to Otero County Film Liaison K. Jan Wafful, “Desert Light is open to all New Mexico high school and middle school students, including students who attend public, private or charter schools, or who are home schooled. We design this festival for any student who is preparing for a career in film. Categories include drama/comedy, documentary, animation, music video and the New Mexico Tourism 30-second commercial. The criteria for all categories include production quality, creativity, and resourcefulness.”
Seminars this year will include Final Cut Pro, special effects makeup for film, MAYA animation, special effects pyrotechnics and production techniques. Bryan Yancey, ProTech division head at NMSUA, has been part of Desert Light from the beginning. “Desert Light has always been about kids and education. Every year NMSUA staff members enjoy designing and teaching the seminars. It’s a great event to be a part of,” said Yancey. A special Film Briefing with Ranger Kathy Denton has been arranged at the White Sands National Monument. Whenever professionals come to film at the Monument, they have certain procedures to follow before they arrive, and while they are filming. This interactive briefing teaches students much about the protocol of filming in national parks and working with other agencies. Students will arrive at the White Sands before sunset, and then be able to film some fabulous footage. This is a very special opportunity to spend several hours at one of the sites kept especially for filming. This event is open just to students and teachers attending the Desert Light Film Festival. Organizers of the 2010 Desert Light Film Competition include K. Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison; Jesse Casto, store manager for JC Penney; Bryan Yancey, ProTech division head at NMSU Alamogordo; Ranger Kathy Denton, Education and Interpretation specialist at White Sands National Monument; Rebecca Price, Otero County Economic Development Council executive assistant; Joan Griggs, festival director from NMSU Alamogordo; and Dr. Bruce Martin, NMSU Alamogordo. Submit films anytime now until Monday, March 15, 2010. Entries should be mailed to the Otero County Film Office, 1301 N. White Sands Blvd., Alamogordo, NM 88310. Each entry requires a $5 entry fee. The official forms explaining the Entry Rules for all categories including the 30 second commercial, Judging and Awards and “Use of Submissions” are available on the Film Otero website www.filmotero.com . For more information, contact K. Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison at jan@filmotero.com or Joan Griggs at jgriggs@nmsua.nmsu.edu .
Click Here for Official Rules ____________________________________________________________________________________
Desert Light Film Festival celebrates student filmmakers in Alamogordo Desert Light Film Festival brought over 120 film students and teachers together on the NMSU Alamogordo campus on Friday, April 24. "This is a special film festival designed for high school and middle school students," said Joan Griggs festival director for Desert Light. "We limit the competition to students from New Mexico. This year the festival included film screenings, seminars, a reception and a grand finale out at the White Sands. It was the most spectacular festival we have ever had. The Best of Festival award was given to Anjelica Apodaca from Mayfield High School for a documentary she produced about her school. The Pro-Tech division at NMSUA, under the direction of Bryan Yancey, presented her with an IPOD and with a movie poster designed by James Scharmack. This movie theater size poster celebrates her winning entry titled "Mayfield High School." The winning high school Music Video, "Chemical Bonding," was produced by Andreas Grimes and Alphonso Holden, students in Kathy Wallis' film class at Alamogordo High School. The original rap music and lyrics made this film the clear audience favorite. "They spent a great deal of time in the sound booth creating the music note-by-note, said Ms.Wallis. "This is the first time the AV class has produced original music and lyrics. This was our first completely original project. AHS chemistry teacher Tom Hurdis wrote the original song, and then collaborated with these students for the finishing touches." "We are proud to have JC Penney Company Fund, Inc. as our official corporate sponsor, and we especially appreciate local Penneys manager Jesse Casto," Griggs said. "Penneys makes it possible to produce this festival and to give out cash prizes that in turn help students fund their filmmaking. We had 63 films competing this year. The films were submitted from six high schools including Alamogordo, Chaparral, Espanola Valley, Mayfield, Texico, and the Albuquerque based Public Academy for the Performing Arts." Middle schools participating included Sierra Middle School in Las Cruces and Jemez Valley Middle School. Students began arriving Thursday night to attend the premiere of Michael Lennick's new documentary, "The Land of Space and Time." Michael and his wife Shirley Gulliford then presented a Friday morning seminar on "Making a Documentary." The room was packed with interested students and community members. Tickets to the premiere were provided by the executive producer, local philanthropists Jerry and Judy Johnson. Emmy award winning screenwriter Kirk Ellis began his morning seminar by showing a clip from "The Dark Knight." Students each had the first four pages of the script, and learned to follow the screenplay while seeing it in action. Mr. Ellis entertained and educated students, leaving everyone wanting to hear more. He was available for questions and conversation during lunch and throughout the day. Students also participated in other seminars, including Special Effects Makeup, Final Cut Pro editing program, Maya Animation, and Pyrotechnic Special Effects. Instructors for these seminars came from NMSU Alamogordo and Dona Ana CC, and included Connie Breding, Sara Irving, Hiaying Wang, and Bill McCamey. The Awards Ceremony Friday afternoon was preceded by a reception in the Rohovec Theater lobby. "The Cloudcroft Light Opera Company was proud to sponsor the reception this year," said Otero County Film Liaison and festival co-director Jan Wafful. "CLOC looks for ways to support youth in the community and this year they found the funds to sponsor this film education event." The grand finale of the festival was held at the White Sands National Monument. Education and Interpretation Ranger Kathy Denton, who wrote the rules and regulations for filming in the national parks system, arranged a perfect evening for the students. She gave a "film briefing" to cover the advantages of working with the park system. "Going through the process of applying for permits is to your advantage," said Ranger Denton, "because the park rangers can provide valuable help, making the experience more efficient and less complicated." Following the briefing, students had time to catch the "magic" light during the sunset hour, providing them with footage for their next production. At 8:30, the high school students from the Public Academy for the Performing Arts wowed the audience by projecting experimental film directly on the dunes. "We've got the equipment and the speakers and the gorgeous films," stated film teacher Su Hudson. The exhibition "screen" for these films was three touching dunes. Each artist used four projectors side-by-side, and introduced their own work much to the crowd's delight. The grand finale brought this festival evening to a dramatic and colorful close. Desert Light Film Festival is a project directed by NMSU Alamogordo and the Otero County Film Office, a division of the Otero County Economic Development Council, and supported by a committee which includes, Jan Wafful, Joan Griggs, Jesse Casto, Bryan Yancey, Bruce Martin, Ranger Kathy Denton, and Rebecca Price representing OCEDC.
Festival Directors ______________________________________________________________________________
Desert Light Event Organizers Presented With Check
Michelle Scharmack/ Alamogordo Daily News Jesse Casto,J.C. Penney's store
____________________________________________________________________________________________ DESERT LIGHT FILM FESTIVAL 2009 CALL FOR ENTRIES IS NOW OPEN CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Press Release:
Desert Light Film Festival 09' - A Middle School and High School Competition
JC Penney is Corporate Sponsor for 2009 Desert Light Film Competition. Held on the NMSU Alamogordo campus, students come from throughout New Mexico to learn and to view student films. Seminars this year will include Final Cut Pro, special effects makeup for film, MAYA animation, storyboarding, and pyrotechnical effects.
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