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Visions 2007

Centers, Institutes & Programs >> Visions 2007

VISIONS FESTIVAL 2007 - AWARD WINNERS

FILM - Undergraduate

FILM - Graduate

FILM - Undergraduate/Graduate

Photography

Broadcast Journalism

Multimedia

Visual Graphics

FILM – Undergraduate

Best Narrative Film

  • Gerardo Rodriguez, Guardian Angel
    After an unexpected death, a woman finds herself in a completely empty and abyss environment, which leads her to her next life. In her journey, she finds out that she has a second chance to come back to life with the help of her Guardian Angel. View excerpt/complete program.

    • Best Documentary Film

    • Theresa Miller, Our Land, Our Life, Our People
      This documentary explores how the members of the Navajo organization Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment (CARE) are motivated to struggle against environmental degradation on the Navajo Nation and how grassroots groups can make positive change to protect and preserve their environment, culture, and way of life. This was her capstone honors project. View excerpt/complete program.

    FILM – Graduate

    Best Narrative Film

    • Mike Pollack, Death of a Nation
      Death of a Nation is a short film that examines the “progress” of our society since the making of the film Birth of a Nation, with a rare look through the eyes of a modern day oppressor. In a time that hate crimes dominate our news coverage, we ask the question: “have we truly evolved as a society since 1915?” View excerpt/complete program.

    Best Short Film

    • Mike Pollack, Bud Light/Volkswagen/Ameriquest
      In these three speculative commercials made specifically for the DDB International Ad Agency, a woman can turn in her color coordinated boyfriend for a Bud Light Man; we’re transported back to our childhood with a back seat car game, and finally, we see the great lengths in which men will go to in order to fit everything into a Saturday, just to enjoy his uninterrupted Sunday. View Bud Light/Volkswagen/Ameriquest commercials.

    Best Documentary Film

    • Joseph Grimme & Nicole Haddock, Still Singing
      Still Singing, gets us tuned-up with a community Barbershop quartet that performs music predominantly in the barbershop style, and in a broad range of other a cappella styles. View excerpt/complete program.

    Best Thesis Project

    • Sylvia Johnson, Steel Chaos Dreams
      In this documentary, a dynamic young ex-criminal turned percussion drummer from a marginalized community in Brazil is doing his best to stay straight despite the odds. View excerpt/complete program.

    FILM – Undergraduate/Graduate

    Best Environmental Film

    • Fall 2006 Environmental Production Class w/ professors Sandy Cannon Brown and Brigid Maher, "EcoViews"
      EcoViews: The Chesapeake Bay, is a 30-minute environmental documentary co-produced by Brigid Maher’s Motion Graphics class and Sandy Cannon-Brown’s Environmental and Wildlife Production class for Maryland Public Television. These aspiring environmental filmmakers explore the Bay through the eyes and hearts of four distinct groups who work and play on this threatened estuary. View excerpt/complete program.

    Best “Making Media Matter” Film

    • Joseph Grimme & Nicole Haddock, Still Singing
      Still Singing, gets us tuned-up with a community Barbershop quartet that performs music predominantly in the barbershop style, and in a broad range of other a cappella styles. View excerpt/complete program.

    Best Short Screenplay

    • Shira Billig, "Apostrophe Assassin"
    • Honorable Mention: Benjamin Cheek, “Time Machine”
    • Honorable Mention: Billy Publico, “Stan”
    • Best Screenwriting/Feature
    • Olugbemiga Idowu, “American Dream”
      A man from Nigeria enters Real Estate in search of a large fortune, but gets more than he bargains for when he cuts too many corners, which could cost him everything.
    • Honorable Mention: Rebecca Howland, “Mistress of the Sea”
    • Honorable Mention: Megan Marcotte, "Trace"

    Best Screenwriting/Teleplay

    • Daniel Maree, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (Religio-Political Real Estate)
      Will the Studio 60 writing team miss their deadline or come to their senses with a little ‘religio-political’ lecturing from Matt? Will Simon accept a job as the lead speech writer for a certain black Presidential candidate? And who will snag the soap opera-esque visitor from NBS-Macao?

    The 2007 Neel Foundation Production Enhancement Award

    • Dan Gallagher: $750
    • Matt Nagy: $750
    • Patrick Flynn: $500

    >This award is given annually to assist one or more selected graduate students in completing their film to the appropriate level for them to enter it in a film festival, or to use as an example of their work in applying for jobs. Funds would typically be used for finishing purposes; e.g. audio mix, color correction, sound correction, titling, editorial consulting, etc. The funds could also be used to help defray the costs associated with entering competitions or festivals including duplication costs, shipping expenses and entry fees.

    The Shrivastava Media Group Film Finishing Award

    • Theresa Miller: $500
    • Sylvia Johnson: $500
    • Gerardo Rodriguez: $500

    This award is given annually to a selected undergraduate student to provide assistance in completing their film to the appropriate level for entry in a film festival or to use as an example of their work in applying for jobs. Funds are typically used for finishing purposes such as color correction, sound sweetening, and editorial consulting. The funds may also be used to help defray costs associated with entering the film in competitions or festivals including duplication costs, shipping expenses and entry fees.

    PHOTOGRAPHY

    Best Photo Essay

    Best Single Image

    • Reese Vaccarezza, "The Wise Owl"
    • Ryan Hansan, "The Lucky"
    • Kaitlin Whitman, "Untitled"

    • Honorable Mention: Jennifer Smoose, "Jessi"
    • Honorable Mention: Yi Chen, "Eiko"
    • Honorable Mention: Jessica Bautista, "Sunlight"
    • Honorable Mention: Jessica Bautista, "Untitled"
    • Honorable Mention: Brandon Bloch, "Byron Bloch Portrait of an Auto Safety Advocate"
    • Honorable Mention: Charlotte Kesl, "Arms Up"

    Best Portfolio Photography

    Best Photo Journalism/News

    • Honorable Mention: Jennifer Smoose, "Never Again"
    • Honorable Mention: Jennifer Smoose, "Gabriel"
    • >Honorable Mention: Andrew Gardner, "Iraq War Protest Triplets"

    Best Photo Installation

    The John R. Bowden Jr. Memorial Scholarship

    • Jennifer Smoose: $2,000
    • Rachel Zasik: $500
    • >Chris McMorrow: $500

    <>The John Bowden Memorial Scholarship recipient is selected annually by the photography faculty in conjunction with the Visions Film Festival. The Bowden award is given to the student, or students, producing the most outstanding work in photography. Either undergraduate or graduate students may be selected for this award.

    BROADCAST JOURNALISM

    Best Broadcast News – Long Form

    • Glenn Luther, Border Hunters
      American University student Glenn Luther follows life on the border in Arizona and Mexico and explores the issue of immigration from all sides. View complete program.

    Best Broadcast News – Short Form

    • Mariam Simpson, Legislation by Councilmember
      In response to the shooting of a 17-year-old girl at a DC nightclub, Councilmember Jim Graham proposed a bill in February that prohibited anyone under 18 from entering alcohol-licensed clubs or establishment with entertainment after 11 p.m. This documentary shows the reaction to that bill from club managers (from the D.C. hotspot 9:30 Club) and a patron. View complete program.

    MULTIMEDIA

    Best Website

    • Adam Enatsky, http://www.american.edu/ocl/vp/ideas/test
      “Ideas into action and action in service,” that’s the idea of Adam Enatsky’s interactive Web site that focuses on the five principles that capture the spirit of American University…..internationalism, diversity, ethics, action and service. The site also comes fully equipped with sound effects.

    VISUAL GRAPHICS

    Best Motion Graphics


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