Kapiti Teen Wins National Film Challenge

Kapiti Teen Wins National Film Challenge with
Stirring Call To Action

A documentary that travels from the windy city of Chicago to our own breezy Wellington to show the work of food rescuers is this year’s The Body Shop Standout Winner of The Outlook for Someday film challenge.

It is one of 20 Winning Films made by individuals and teams from 7 to 24 years old that were honoured last night in The Someday Awards ceremony at the Aotea Centre in Auckland.

To The Rescue, made by 15-year old Mason Cade Packer, wowed a judging team of people from media, education, government and business with its depth, subtlety and cinematic portrayal of the people and organisations who salvage food from around their cities to feed the hungry.

Watch To The Rescue here: www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/films/2014/019/

“Mason has made a film that is both stirring and profound – it lives long after you’ve watched it,” said Barrie Thomas, Director of The Body Shop, which is Key Partner of The Outlook for Someday project.

“The documentary has a level of maturity, clarity and lightness of touch that puts it alongside the best short work by dedicated, experienced film-makers. To see that To The Rescue has been made by such a young film-maker speaks to how supremely talented Mason is. The film is a slow-burning force of passion and focus.”

“The Body Shop is again proud to be associated with The Outlook for Someday, and to see the project attracting powerful, important films made by young people year after year.”

Alongside international food rescue initiatives, To The Rescue features the work of Wellington-based Kaibosh, a not-for-profit organisation that redistributes edible food from retailers and producers to people in need.

“We are extremely proud to be associated with Mason and are greatly appreciative of the opportunity that he has given us to take our mission and vision - to stop edible food from being needlessly thrown away and ensure that it reaches those in our community who are struggling or vulnerable - to a wider audience,” said Matt Dagger, General Manager of Kaibosh, who was interviewed and filmed for the documentary by Mason and his team-mate Anthony McEwen.

“It was a real pleasure to have Mason and Anthony spend time with us at Kaibosh. They had a really deep understanding of the issues of food insecurity and food waste that Kaibosh and other food rescue organisations are working to combat, and this is clearly shown in their fantastic short film.”

Mason is a student at Kapiti College in Raumati Beach, Kapiti.

“He is a talented cameraman with a great natural eye for composition,” said Mason’s film-making teacher Alouis Woodhouse. “You can see a maturity and highly sophisticated control in his camera work."

The prize package won by Mason includes a mentorship with actor, film industry professional and Someday Ambassador Kiel McNaughton, membership of the Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand, and a Canon DSLR camera kit ready for film-making.

At The Someday Awards ceremony the winning film-makers received their prizes from Tom Hern and James Napier Robertson, producer and director of the acclaimed film The Dark Horse starring Cliff Curtis.

Each Winning Film received a special award (listed below) and was in the running to be Element Audience Favourite.

Over 1200 people voted in the online poll, which was won by Open Your Eyes, aconfessional video essay about wastefulness and disconnection.

“The team at Element are delighted that Open Your Eyes was voted Element Audience Favourite. Given its short length, it reaches remarkable depth in conveying not only our consumer culture, but the underlying thinking behind it,” says James Russell, Editor of Element Magazine.

“It will indeed serve its purpose and open the eyes of those who are oblivious to the ramifications of their actions. It will encourage them to tread more lightly on the earth.”

Now in its 8th year, The Outlook for Someday film challenge asks young people aged up to 24 to make short sustainability-related films of any genre, filmed with any camera and any length up to 5 minutes.

ABOUT THE OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY

The Outlook for Someday is New Zealand’s sustainability film project for young people. It includes an annual film challenge and a national series of sustainability film-making workshops.

This year 508 young people have taken part making 130 entries to the film challenge from all over New Zealand; and 664 young people, teachers and youth workers participated in 33 free one-day sustainability film-making workshops.

The objective of the project is to help grow a generation of sustainability storytellers.
“The Outlook for Someday is a vehicle for media citizenship. By making films about sustainability young people are contributing their talents to changing the world," says David Jacobs, Project Director.

WATCH THE WINNING FILMS
www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/winning-films

DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF THE WINNING FILMS
www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/gallery/2014/winning-films

DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS FROM THE SOMEDAY AWARDS
http://www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/gallery/2014/awards/

DOWNLOAD PROJECT IDENTITY
http://www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/gallery/2014/project-identity

JUDGING TEAM:
www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/prizes/judging-team

SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS

Connected Media Film-making Achievement Award
For a film with outstanding creative / technical quality
If Life was Like the Web by Angus Slade (14) from Lower Hutt
Genre: Animated Music Video
Synopsis: Made of the times, for the times, this film critiques our online interactions and illustrates how they can fall short of true communication.

Enviroschools Young Voices For Change Award
For a film motivating young people and/or decision-makers to be change-makers
Material Witness by Daisy Thor-Poet (16) and Ming Thor-Poet (13) from Mount Aspiring College in Wanaka
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: A thirteen-year old girl shows us how to combine a calling for the arts and the call of nature to produce stunning artworks.

UNESCO Sustainable Future Award
For a film which promotes dialogue on sustainability through a new perspective and/or critical thinking
Odd Balls by Rowen Trusewich (17) from Auckland
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: Following one woman and her hobby, this biopic gives us a snapshot of a passion that never ceases to give pleasure and warmth.

Department of Conservation Big Picture Award
For a film focusing on one or more of the Big Ideas and Values in DOC's Big Picture strategy to connect young people to the natural world
Nature’s Ghosts by Emma Scheltema (24) from Auckland
Genre: Animated Video Essay
Synopsis: Animating a story of ecology with the same simplicity and care with which we should treat our earth, this film gracefully entreats us to act for the good of all.

Ministry of Youth Development Community Participation Award
For a film focusing on active citizenship
Paua Sustainability in Tauroa by Olivia Matthews (16) and Emma Dolfing (16) from Kaitaia College
Genre: News Item
Synopsis: A reportage-style piece about cooperation between schools in the quest to preserve and grow paua populations in Northland.

Te Puni Kōkiri Whakatipuranga Award
For a film with a Māori indigenous perspective on sustainability
Te Ao o te Tuturuatu by Tomairangi Harvey (11) from Christchurch
Genre: Animated Docudrama
Synopsis: Narrated in Te Reo Māori, this painterly animation tells the story of the Tuturuatu (Shore Dotterel) and its habitat and survival in New Zealand.

The Coconet.tv Pasifika Award
For a film by a Pasifika film-maker or team and/or featuring Pasifika language and culture
Beeing a Honey Maker by a team from Avalon Intermediate School and Taita College in Lower Hutt (aged 11-13)
Genre: Music Video
Synopsis: To a languorous beat as lilting as a summer’s day, this music video riffs about the importance of bees to our lives and to life itself on earth.

Like Minds, Like Mine Award
For a film that focuses on social inclusion and wellbeing as a sustainability issue for young people
Rewind by Liam van Eeden (16) and Jean-Martin Fabre (16) from Verdon College in Invercargill
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: If you could rewind the things you did what would you change for the better? Two young men show us how a single moment can change a life.

Auckland Council Film-maker Award
For a film by a film-maker or team from the Auckland region
Omaha Shorebird Sanctuary – A Place Worth Protecting by a team from AUT University in Auckland (aged 21-22)
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: This documentary discusses the multiple threats facing New Zealand’s native shorebirds and what one community is doing to protect its avian inhabitants.

All Good People and Planet Award
For a film which addresses social justice as a sustainability issue
To The Rescue by Mason Cade Packer (15) and Anthony McEwen (16) from Kapiti College
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: All the way from Chicago to Lower Hutt, this film tracks the work of food rescuers who salvage food from around their cities to feed the hungry.

Green Ideas Sustainable Lifestyle Award
For a film focusing on lifestyle change for sustainability
Weekday Vegetarian by Ruby Harris (15) and Naomi Ashby-Ryan (14) from Logan Park High School in Dunedin
Genre: Public Service Announcement
Synopsis: A simple, achievable option for cutting waste and harmful emissions the world over. A film to make you think, and act.

O’Halloran North Shore Media Empowerment Award
For a film which empowers its viewers and/or its makers
Quinn’s Quest by Hunter Williams (15) from Auckland
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: A seven-year old girl asks her mother questions no seven-year old should ever have to ask. This documentary chronicles how Quinn Hautapu inspires people across New Zealand with her bravery and indomitable spirit.

AUT Storytelling Award
For a film with powerful storytelling
Cathy and Anna by Michelle Vergel de Dios (23) and Kiri Jones (20) from Auckland
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: Part parable of humanity, part real-life experience of young people searching for a subject to drive their passion in a homework assignment, this story mixes live action and animation to convey its message.

Yours Digital Media Award
For a film with outstanding editing or animation
The Final Cut by Connor Ayliffe (19) and Fyn Ayliffe (13) from Auckland
Genre: Animated Silent Movie
Synopsis: A rich man buys a rainforest only to find that someone has been cutting down the trees and he wants to get to the root of it.

Viewfinder Cinematography Award
For a film with outstanding cinematography
Beep by a team from Timaru (aged 18-22)
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: A man is given pause for reflection and a change of direction when an incessant beeping begins to plague his life.

The 4.30 Show Secondary School Film-makers Award
For a film made by young people of secondary school age
Epilobium by a team from Hobsonville Point Secondary School in Auckland (aged 13-14)
Genre: Video Essay
Synopsis: Words tumble from the mouth of a young poet as a waterfall of images of urban New Zealand drives us to a fundamental question: what will we leave behind on this land when we are gone?

What Now Primary/Intermediate School Film-makers Award
For a film made by young people of primary or intermediate school age
No More Cats! by a team from Victory Primary School in Nelson (aged 10-11)
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: Students probe into the murky debate about cats and native birdlife through interview and anecdotes from New Zealand history.

Tearaway Secondary School Performance Award
For a film made by young people of secondary school age with strong on-screen performance
Open Your Eyes by a team from Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru (aged 14-15)
Genre: Video Essay
Synopsis: A plainspoken confessional of modern malaise from a young voice alerts us to our wastefulness and disconnection.

Upstart Magazine Primary/Intermediate School Performance Award
For a film made by young people of primary or intermediate school age with strong on-screen performance
Honeybee News by a team from Freevile Primary School in Christchurch (aged 7-9)
Genre: News Item
Synopsis: Adorable honeybees speak up about their plight in today’s world. Mixing live-action puppetry and documentary reporting, this film shows how the decline of bees around the world will impact almost all life on earth.

The Someday Ambassadors Teamwork Award
For a film with strong teamwork on and/or off screen
Saving Trees by a team from Pongakawa School in Te Puke (aged 10-11)
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: We follow a news crew as they witness the cutting down of the last tree, and the civil unrest that ensues in the fight to save it.

THE OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

The Outlook for Someday in 2014 is based on partnerships between Connected Media Charitable Trust and The Body Shop New Zealand, The Enviroschools Foundation, the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Youth Development, Department of Conservation, Te Puni Kōkiri, the Health Promotion Agency and Auckland Council.

Funding Partners are ASB Community Trust, The Trusts Community Foundation and Creative New Zealand's Creative Communities Scheme.

Media Partners are The 4.30 Show, What Now, The Coconet.tv, YOURS.net.nz, Element Magazine, Green Ideas Magazine, Tearaway, Upstart and Viewfinder.

Event Partners are Auckland Live, Austin’s and All Good.

AUT University is Tertiary Partner, the Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand is Industry Partner and Benefitz is Print Partner.

O’Halloran North Shore is Accountancy Partner and Stephens Lawyers is Honorary Legal Advisor.

Project Supporters are Levi’s® Stores, DefenderBags, Safebottles, ecostore, WWF New Zealand, Orcon, Rockstock, B&F Papers, Pastel City, AS Colour, Karousel Screenprinting, Kahra Scott-James, Orange Productions, NZ Camera Hire, Hire Plants, El Framo, AroVideo, Corporate Consumables and Lothlorien Organic Fruit Juices.

ends

© Scoop Media