Student Showcase - Future Filmmakers Of Hawaii!

The student showcase was a free event that screened on Saturday, November 21 at 10:00am at the Dole Cannery theater. I decided to go because I wanted to see the work that students from around the island were creating. Being a student myself, I feel like I could relate to these films since they were made by youth around my age. Also, by watching other student’s work, it gives me a chance to see the way others film and maybe even give me some inspiration.Although I give all the directors major kudos for what they’ve made, the films that stood out to me the most were All For Nothing, A Blank Canvas, and Temporary.

All For Nothing was about two local boys, Young Mob and Monsta, who arrange a fight where the loser had to leave the island and the winner got the girl, Arianne. This film was written, directed, and acted by fifteen youth from the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF). Instructors and film makers from Films by Youth Inside collaborated with the youth during a 2-week workshop.It was such an entertaining and super funny film to watch. I guess being born and raised in Hawaii, it made this film even more relatable because we hear people speaking “pidgin” all the time and growing up, I’ve seen small fights over little things like this happen sometimes. My favorite character has got to be the “mean auntie”.

A Blank Canvas was directed by Chloe Ma and Sophia Roud. It’s about how a boy’s dull, lonely, routine-lifestyle is suddenlychanged when he unexpectedly meets a girl who makes him realize that in order to live a colorful and happy life, you need a little love and personal passion.I liked the way the film was shot, very cool cinematography. Also, I liked how it told a story without having any audio other than the background music. At first I was a bit confused about what was going on, but when they finally showed him meeting the girl, it made sense. I also found it cute and clever how the boy was wearing all white and the girl was all messy and covered with paint. I thought it was a cool way of showing the dynamic of the two different lifestyles.

Lastly, Temporary, directed by Micah Mew, was about a girl named Jennifer whodoesn’t really call anywhere “home” due to her dad being in the military and moving all around the country. When she moved to Oahu, she meets a local girl named Nicole who teaches Jennifer that no matter where they go, their friendship will remain strong.I thought this short film was very well put together with amazing cinematography. I especially loved the b-roll captured. Although I don’t know the feeling of having to move away and meet new friends, I have met a lot of people who come and go because their family member is in the military. So the character I related to the most was Nicole. But with those who I have meet that have moved away, I still keep connected with them through social media which I think is pretty cool.

Overall, amazing job to all the cast and crew of the films in this showcase. I really hope they keep doing what they’re doing because no doubt, there’s so much potential and talent within these students. I hope to see their work sometime again.

To see a list of all the short films screened during the showcase, visit: http://program.hiff.org/films/program/student_showcase_2015.