2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeAnnual Syracuse International Film Festival features works focused on diversity, community
By Dan Kaplan
Posted: 5/7/08, 8:09 PM EST Section: Feature
For aspiring filmmaker Michael Morone, participation in the Syracuse International Film Festival was a great opportunity he couldn't be a part of.
Though many other films shown throughout the 10-day festival had their directors present at screenings, Morone, a freshman at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., was taking his final exams while his film aired.
"I wish I could have attended," the freshman said of the festival, which ended Saturday. "It's great meeting other filmmakers and seeing the reaction to your film."
His short film, "Prelude," was screened at the Bristol IMAX Omnitheater at the Museum of Science and Technology in downtown Syracuse Saturday.
It was filmed in August 2007, while Morone was at the Filmsters filmmaking camp in Annapolis, Md. After receiving positive reviews at the camp's final screening, Morone and producer Caitlin Leach decided to submit it to film festivals.
It was accepted at the Syracuse and Phoenix festivals - the first time one of his films was chosen for a high-profile showing.
The 11-minute film tells the story of an encounter between a man and a deaf woman in a park and how their friendship develops through shared interests and activities, in spite of aural difficulties. Morone said the intended message of his film was very simple.
"I would say that the film's message is that the only barriers to communication and connection are perceived," Morone said.
The film preceded two other animation short films: "Ping Pong," by James Hodgens and "When I Grow Up," by Michelle Meeker.
The last 45 minutes of the showing was dedicated to an international video postcard project. Organized by Michal Matus, director of the Tel Aviv International Children's Film Festival, the project encouraged students around the world to produce five-minute video snapshots of their hometowns. The movie featured submissions from Finland, Senegal and Israel, along with two from Syracuse.
"I'm very glad "Prelude" was a part of the festival," he said. "What we wanted was for people to get a chance to see the film, and knowing that there was an audience for it is a great feeling. I'm glad Syracuse gave us that opportunity."
sdkaplan@syr.edu
Though many other films shown throughout the 10-day festival had their directors present at screenings, Morone, a freshman at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., was taking his final exams while his film aired.
"I wish I could have attended," the freshman said of the festival, which ended Saturday. "It's great meeting other filmmakers and seeing the reaction to your film."
His short film, "Prelude," was screened at the Bristol IMAX Omnitheater at the Museum of Science and Technology in downtown Syracuse Saturday.
It was filmed in August 2007, while Morone was at the Filmsters filmmaking camp in Annapolis, Md. After receiving positive reviews at the camp's final screening, Morone and producer Caitlin Leach decided to submit it to film festivals.
It was accepted at the Syracuse and Phoenix festivals - the first time one of his films was chosen for a high-profile showing.
The 11-minute film tells the story of an encounter between a man and a deaf woman in a park and how their friendship develops through shared interests and activities, in spite of aural difficulties. Morone said the intended message of his film was very simple.
"I would say that the film's message is that the only barriers to communication and connection are perceived," Morone said.
The film preceded two other animation short films: "Ping Pong," by James Hodgens and "When I Grow Up," by Michelle Meeker.
The last 45 minutes of the showing was dedicated to an international video postcard project. Organized by Michal Matus, director of the Tel Aviv International Children's Film Festival, the project encouraged students around the world to produce five-minute video snapshots of their hometowns. The movie featured submissions from Finland, Senegal and Israel, along with two from Syracuse.
"I'm very glad "Prelude" was a part of the festival," he said. "What we wanted was for people to get a chance to see the film, and knowing that there was an audience for it is a great feeling. I'm glad Syracuse gave us that opportunity."
sdkaplan@syr.edu
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