G-Star
Students Win World Film Award at the White House!
Palm
Springs, FL (March 27, 2015) – It has been a stellar month for the G-Star
School of the Arts high school for national and world-wide awards. Three G-Star students entered the White House
Film Festival and won! Their video can
be viewed at www.whitehouse.gov/filmfestival. The G-Star video is titled Give It All Away. It is the number one video to be viewed. They won the “Creative Luminaries” award.(Note: The video can also be viewed on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGZSl01mwY8&list=PLRJNAhZxtqH9rgStKVPQ-TVyUMQX6_RDM&index=1
G-Star
student Shaun Besman was the cinematographer, original concept, lighting,
sound, and editor. Daniella Pereira
wrote the narration and performed it, was the assistant editor, and appeared on
screen. Julissa Perez wrote and
performed the title song “Give It All Away” and assisted in the writing the
narrative. From script to screen, they
produced the video in four days, and submitted their entry two minutes before
the deadline.
President
Obama personally gave out the awards.
Two-time Oscar winning actress Hillary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry) was in attendance as was
Academy Award winning Director for last year’s documentary “12 Years A Slave”,
Steve McQueen, who both spoke to the winners on filmmaking and acting.
The
young filmmakers were joined in the East Room (where Lincoln and Kennedy’s
bodies were viewed) turned Movie Theater by President Obama who told the
students, “So I love this event. This is
the second year that we’ve hosted the White House Student Film Festival, and
it's a great example of what happens when we just unleash the skills and the
imagination of America’s young people.
In this country, if we give all of our kids the best opportunities and
technology and resources, there’s no telling what they’ll create -- now and the
years ahead.
“This
year, we received more than 1,500 submissions that came from all across the
country -- actually even came as far as Azerbaijan. Our theme was “The Impact of Giving
Back.” And today, we are proud to honor
our 15 official selections, because these aren’t just great films, but they’re
great examples of how young people are making a difference all over the
country.
“So
today, as part of our “United We Serve” effort, I’m proud to announce that AFI
and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
are pairing up to give each of the young filmmakers here a mentor who can bring
out the best of them in the months ahead.
That’s pretty cool.”
G-Star
students also took top honors in THE NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING
AWARDS. Founded in 1923, The Scholastic
Art & Writing Awards is the most prestigious recognition and scholarship
program for creative teens with tens of thousands of students in grades 7
through 12 submitting original work each year.
Submissions this year were from the USA, Korea, UK, Croatia, Egypt, Hong
Kong, China, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, Canada, and the UAE. The non-profit Alliance for Young Artists
& Writers presents The Scholastic Awards and partners with more than 60 art
institutes, college and universities to make an additional $10 million in
scholarships available to graduating seniors annually. Notable award winners from past years
include: Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Zac Posen and Lena Dunham, among many
others.
G-Star
senior Christina Brown won the “Gold Key Award”, the highest award that is
bestowed upon student artists, for her digital film “Between the Static”. Junior Eli Dreyfoos won the “Gold Key Award”
for photography for “Stop Bullying”; and the “Silver Key Award” for photography
for “Young Eyes”. Senior Ross Kaplan won
the “Silver Key Award” for his motion picture script.
Congratulations
to them all!
Contact:
Greg
Hauptnergreghauptn@aol.com
561-386-6275
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