The 2010 Envision Film Festival was held on February 25-27 on the Taylor University campus.
The festival was hosted by Taylor’s media communication program, known for premier programs in film and video production. 2010 marked the inaugural year for a high school category in the festival.
The festival kicked off with a screening of Laura Waters Hinson’s film As We Forgive, the 2008 winner of the Academy Award for best student documentary. Hinson spoke to the audience by phone conference call just before the screening.
On the second day of the festival, Taylor offered a slate of free educational workshops for aspiring filmmakers. Workshops included “Acting in Hollywood,” “The Role of the Film Producer,” “Using Art for Social Change,” and “Film Scoring.” This year’s guests of honor were Mateo Messina, Grammy award-winning composer for the soundtrack of Academy Award-winning film Juno, Brian Armes, financial manager of the American Film Institute Conservatory and Luke Barnett, Hollywood actor and documentary film producer.
On the festival’s third day, admissions guests got an inside peak at Taylor’s media communication program with facility tours and opportunities to interact with faculty and students. Finally, the high school film entries were screened at the university president’s home and several received awards for outstanding filmmaking. Imagine screening your film and getting immediate feedback from Hollywood insiders! That was the experience of our high school filmmakers.
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2010 Winners
Best Picture – Amend. . . .( Watch Now )
Best Cinematography – Duty-Bound
Best Short Film – chalk
Best Long Film – Amend
Best Editing – Jade
Best Screenplay – Open Mic Night
Best Drama – Old
Best Comedy – The Catch
Best Documentary – Amend
Audience Choice Award – Amend
Best Picture (High School Category) – The Walker
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2010 Guests
Mateo Messina
Mateo Messina (born 1972 in Seattle, Washington) is an American soundtrack composer perhaps best known for working his Grammy-award winning work on the soundtrack to the Academy Award winning 2007 film Juno. He has also worked as a composer on the feature films Coming Up Easy, Thank You for Smoking, Bondage, Jump!, Out of Omaha, Non pensarci, Hit and Run, The Least of These, and Up In The Air. His style of songwriting and composition has earned him accolades within the recording industry, including the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He has also written music for a variety of commercials, for clients such as Nike, Microsoft, MTV, Honda, Pottery Barn, Volkswagen, Sony, Norelco, The North Face and Ford.
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Brian Armes
Brian W. Armes was reared in Erie, PA. He earned a B.A. from Taylor University and an M.F.A. from The American Film Institute where he studied with D.C. Fontana and Neil Canton. Brian has
overseen production on more than 130 short films and was the second assistant director on the independent feature film What Love Is. As a writer/director, Brian has helmed several short films, music videos, and stage productions, including First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood’s annual Good Friday service, featuring the Actor’s Co-op.
In his parallel passion of education, Brian has written curriculum and taught filmmaking classes for high schools on both coasts. Brian has also studied at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center and Act One: Writing for Hollywood. He currently works as the Financial Manager of the AFI Conservatory.
Brian’s short film “The Dog is Barking” actually received best score/soundtrack and best female actress awards at the inaugural Taylor Film Festival back in 1998.
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Luke Barnett
Luke is originally from Clinton, MD. With a desire to change the world, and a strong will to use the arts to do so, Luke moved to Los Angeles and landed the role of Andrew in the rock drama, The Playground, a show that opened many doors for Luke not only as an actor, but as an advocate for social justice. Later, Luke booked a supporting role in Mamas Boy opposite Jon Heder, and starring Diane Keaton. He has since had the opportunity to work in movies like Safehouse, You only better, Rejouer, and Buttercup, along with guest starring on numerous television shows and commercials.
Luke is one of the founders of Spare Some Change, a movement to raise awareness on homeless youth in America. The first project being produced is a feature length documentary of the same name.
Luke is currently acting in the futuristic sci-fi film Thrillseekers: and an independent drama, Hardcore Hearts. He can also be seen in the stage musical, “Saved by the Bell.”
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2010 Promo
Interviews with Brian Armes (American Film Institute), Mateo Messina (Grammy Award-winning composer of “Juno”) and Luke Barnett (actor, producer).
The Envision Film Festival is the Taylor University Media Communication Department’s annual celebration of student creativity and films. This year (2010) featured the first High School category, as well as several award-winning student productions.