On Campus News

Jeannie Collacott talks about the Ocean County library student film festival, which is currently open for submissions

By Naomi Laeuchli
posted Mar 4, 2013, 17:07

Jeannie Collacott, the teen services librarian at Ocean County Library in New Jersey, talks about the library�s annual Ocean County Library Student Film Festival and what she most enjoys about working on it. The Festival is open for submissions until March 20th and accepts submissions from high school and college students. Students do not need to attend school in Ocean County, and the festival accepts submissions from both national and international students.

Why was the library interested in hosting a film festival?
The central role of the public library is transitioning from an informational hub to a cultural center.
The Ocean County Library is a strong advocate for the cultural arts in our community and we serve as a prominent venue for artistic expression such as art displays, music recitals, and writing groups. Our library not only serves as storage of information, but most importantly, we are home to visions and stories.
As a teen services librarian, I am sure that it is not news when I tell you that today�s youth is bursting at the seams with creativity and energy. Now, more than ever, young adults are exploring their world through the lens of a camera and film has become a popular and valued means of telling a story for today�s youth. We created the Ocean County Library Student Film Festival to celebrate, support and inspire our emerging visionaries and their artistic storytelling.

Can you tell me about the workshops the library is hosting as part of the festival as well as the people teaching them?
The festival focuses upon the process of filmmaking. Not only do we provide the venue for the young filmmaker to screen their work, we offer the student the opportunity to interact with industry professionals and educators. This year we are offering several workshops on screen writing, special effect make-up, and film financing. All classes are free and open to the public.

Fundamentals of Screenwriting
Every film needs a story! Dan Seery, local screenwriter, will share insight and practical information that will help you turn your vision into film.
Dan Seery is a local screenwriter and strong film enthusiast. He teaches�Film Appreciation� at the continuing education program at the local community college and has been an avid film fest supporter since its conception.

Special Effects in Make-Up
Making a Zombie Movie? Want to create cuts, bruises or burns like a pro? Come to a workshop where you will learn how to apply inexpensive �Do-It-Yourself� make-up taught by the owner of Anatomy FX, Tony Mandile.
Tony Mandile is the owner of Anatomy FX, has over 15 years of experience designing and creating special characters in film and 12 years of experience running make-up departments for theme park haunted attractions, most notably, Ocean County�s own Six Flags �Fright Fest� in Jackson, New Jersey.

Independent Film Financing: Tips and Tricks
Learn about funding opportunities to get your film career off the ground. Finance your film through Kickstarter or win prizes and funding for commercials and short films. Talk to local filmmaker David Niziolek who has successfully financed commercial projects.
David Niziolek is the owner of Nerakevad Studios. He is a talented and self-taught filmmaker who has successfully managed to fund his films though grants writing and public funding. Film artist, audio technician wedding photographer, David is devoted to all his endeavors and works hard to master them all.

What are you looking for in your submissions?
The Ocean County Library Film Festival is open to �Student filmmakers� in high school and college up to the age of 26. We accept films in several genres from animation, commercial, documentary, news, sports, commercial, short feature, experimental and music video. This year we have a special PSA category, �I Love My Library�, where the winner will be featured and promoted on our website.
When the film is submitted we ask the student to include their proposed �goal� for the film. What is was they were trying to say. When judging we look at the video and audio quality of the film, the technical editing, the visual cinematography, the originality of the piece and finally, if the film achieves its stated goal. This last element is the deciding factor. The film must successfully tell its story or achieve its true intention. We also take in to consideration the various mediums that students use to make their films, especially in the high school environment where not all schools have access to the best equipment. If the creativity of the piece transcends the technical components it remains a viable contender. It boils down to the original focus of the festival and that it is about the �process� of the filmmaking.

What do you, personally, find the most exciting part about working on the festival?
I have two distinct favorite parts about working on the festival. The first involves the judging process. We have a panel of judges that range from librarians, educators, artists, professionals to film enthusiasts and when we meet for final deliberations it can be quite dynamic. When it comes to art people are very subjective and passionate about the experience. Secondly, and most importantly, is the festival itself. Parents of sports players and musicians can go to games and concerts but young artists who make films don�t have many venues to display their work. Watching the parents, grandparents, friends and family �experience� the student�s film on a big screen and hear their applause, that in itself, is worth all the hard work.





Resources:

The Ocean County Library Student Film Festival