From a list of 49 nominees, the following 15 students have been selected as semifinalists for the 2022 Artist of the Year in film/animation. The students were chosen by a panel of teachers based on written statements, sample films and artistic résumés.
Included are links to their work, the specialty in which they were nominated, and quotes about how they relate to their craft.
Film/animation students were nominated in the specialties of animation and visual arts, cinematography, and directing and editing.
During the final round of adjudication, students are interviewed by a panel of distinguished artistic professionals and faculty members from Southern California universities. Interviews include a live presentation by the students followed by a question-and answer-session.
One finalist in each specialty will be named as well as an overall Artist of the Year in each of the seven disciplines – theater, dance, instrumental music, vocal music, film, handcrafted visual arts and computer-assisted visual arts.
The Artists of the Year will be announced on May 1.
This program is generously sponsored by the Chapman University College of Performing Arts. Additional support is provided by the Laguna College of Art + Design and the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University.
If you would like to become a sponsor for the Artist of the Year program, contact Heide Janssen at ocartistoftheyear@gmail.com.
Maggie Ding, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Directing and editing
“Filmmaking, a philosophical exploration, has had a significant impact on me, touched my heart, awakened my vision, and facilitated positive changes around me over time. Through filmmaking, I have captured complex issues, invited the audience to come on the journey, helped them open their minds, and increased understanding. I do not aspire to make revolutionary changes to the world, but even a small change on the good side will be a big achievement for me.”
Jakob Dubin, senior, Arnold O. Beckman High School
Specialty: Directing and editing
“As an artist, my journey is far from over. I’ve only scratched the surface of the stories I’ve wanted to tell, and am still learning so much everyday. I know with each piece I create, my vision and pride will only grow stronger, making me confident and capable of making amazing films. I want to continue to provoke deep thought with every film I make, making sure to pack deeper, more resounding messages as I continue to master my control of language, characterization, and storytelling.”
Alexander Guo, senior, University High School
Specialty: Directing and editing
“Filmmaking has fundamentally reshaped the way I look at the world and every aspect of my life I see through the lens of a film. My intention is to continue this tradition by writing and directing stories, some of which are unique and personal to me.”
Brandon Jaiyen, junior, Fountain Valley High School
Specialty: Cinematography
“In the future, I want to spread my personal stories in creative ways. I want people to learn about different parts of society that build our world. I want to spread awareness of art and make work that makes people appreciate the very foundation of what makes life colorful. We can’t live without images, we can’t live without music, we can’t live without television. I want my works to reach farther than just online video, I want to make it into festivals, theaters, homes.”
Youning Jiang, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Directing and editing
“My upbringing taught me to take chances and see the world as much as I can. From watching my parents’ movie night picks to now making films of my own, I’ve always been thirsty for stories. I received a second-hand Canon 5D camera from my dad after he stumbled upon photographs on my phone of various silhouettes expressing grief after losing my puppy, Pillow. Taking it everywhere, I combined my passion for music, writing, and painting into a new language – filmmaking.”
Brian Lee, senior, Arnold O. Beckman High School
Specialty: Animation and visual effects
“My dream career is to become an editor. Films, to me, are the most effective and profound way to express feelings. A great film conveys the emotions of the characters, the crew, and the director. An editor gets to be in the thick of it: they see the story from start to finish, ever adjusting it to make the emotional beats hit harder, they study the language of the actors to get the perfect close-up, and they get the opportunity to set the tone of a scene.”
Alexis Ai Macdonald, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Directing and editing
“I aspire to be a film director because realizing that I’m telling a story as I edit the video together is a special feeling. I also enjoy working on the same project with others and pursuing the same goal because, at the end of the day, we form a family-like relationship. Finally, I want my crew and our artwork to be recognized. Being appreciated for what I like to do is a dream come true.”
Cecilia Mou, senior, Portola High School
Specialty: Directing and editing
“Being a filmmaker has shown me the intimate magical moments between the repetitions of life, the beauty of the quotidien and its quiet brevity. The 30-second interactions working at the drive-thru window (I go through hundreds per shift) now tell secrets of hidden stories and characters that stand alone in itself. And as my characters inevitably drive off, I find myself yearning to ask, ‘What happens next?’ I take my time with my customers now to the chagrin of my managers. They’ve transformed from an order of large fries and a McFlurry to a character, with problems and values of their own.”
Nickhil Nagpal, senior, Arnold O. Beckman High School
Specialty: Cinematography
“As an artist, I want to leave a legacy of innovation for solving production problems. … Specifically in visual effects, if the special effect technician needs to capture more information to execute their vision, they can use what they have in a new way to replicate what they need. Taking a step back and working around such problems could allow production to move much faster while getting the same or even better results. I want to inspire future filmmakers and special effect technicians to use their education and create new innovations or unused technological advances to move their productions along.”
Nona Nishigawara, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Directing and editing
“I imagine a future self that produces work across a variety of media. I want to further deepen my interaction with questions and struggles about my relationship with gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and how this shapes my own understanding of identity, coalesce through shapes, forms, and imagery in my work. I know I will continue to extend beyond standard art practices and push the boundaries of expression.”
Emily Pham, senior, Portola High School
Specialty: Cinematography
“As a queer, Vietnamese woman in film, I’ve dedicated tons of my cinematography work towards films about mental health, Asian hate, queer representation, and autism awareness. Having the opportunities to create in such a diverse space means to not be afraid to venture out and meet new people because that is where the best stories come from.”
Charlotte Quintanar, junior, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Specialty: Animation and visual effects
“My passions for science and film may initially seem contradictory, but I find them inseparable, interrelated, and a forum for my fascination. Whether it’s biology, chemistry, physics or astronomy, I just can’t seem to shake this bottomless passion. As an innately curious type, nerdy, and creative, I am never at a loss to transfer my textbook learning beyond the classroom to design my own experiments at home, and of course, my camera becomes my canvas to document my process.”
Sanay Saboo, senior, University High School
Specialty: Directing and editing
“As the executive producer of my school’s broadcast program, Univision, I’ve seen firsthand how challenging the collaborative process can be. I founded UHS Multimedia, a diverse community service club that employs graphic designers, photographers, and filmmakers to help create content for organizations. Our team of 30+ creators has worked with other clubs, nonprofits, small businesses, and more. I see myself in each of the artists I’ve had the privilege of leading over the years: struggling, aspiring artists, unsure of what to do with the world. I do my best to give them the guidance I wish I had.”
Justin Shin, senior, Orange County School of the Arts
Specialty: Cinematography
“I am an artist that has many dualities. I spent exactly half of my life in Korea and the other half here in America. Therefore, I feel connected to both Korean and American cultures. Another duality that I have as an artist is videography and music. I grew up watching a lot of movies and TV shows, but I also grew up listening to a lot of music. Now I share a passion in both videography and music.”
Shile Yang, senior, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Specialty: Directing and editing
“Looking ahead into the future, my short-term goal is to try and get as much experience on set as possible. My long-term goal is to get into narrative work as a director. Whether it is shooting specs or music videos until I get my shot at a narrative, I will always be ready. In terms of impact, I think I want to just create pictures that are entertaining and just have it be something you can enjoy on a family movie night.”
from Signage https://ift.tt/7doDFMn
via Irvine Sign Company
