On Campus News

Vancouver Film School Student Wins $1,000 Prize for Best Short Script

By StudentFilmmakers.com
posted Apr 30, 2012, 09:55

(Vancouver, BC) � Vancouver Film School (VFS), Canada�s premier entertainment arts institution, is pleased to announce the 2012 recipient of the Prairie Dog Film + Television Award for Best Short Script, �Space Cadet�, by current VFS student Mike Nickel.

Prairie Dog Film + Television�s founder Ron E. Scott, himself a graduate of VFS�s Film Production program, initiated this award in 2011 to encourage emerging writing talent. Students enrolled in the one-year Writing for Film & Television program at VFS are eligible to win the $1,000 prize. Scripts are first recommended by VFS faculty and staff, including Head of Department Michael Baser, and then passed on to Prairie Dog Film + Television to be judged based on their readability, character construction, and execution of concept.

�We have such a talented pool of young writers that it is never an easy task to choose just one recipient,� says Baser. �However, �Space Cadet� was an exceptional piece and I congratulate Mike Nickel on this achievement and thank everyone at Prairie Dog who made this possible.� Nickel�s script tells the story of a lonely boy struggling to adjust to a new school. He�s paired up with a girl to give a class presentation, but she doesn�t share his deep fascination with space exploration. With playful Pixar-like levity, Nickel�s protagonist discovers how compromising a little can mean a lot when making new friends.

�To be recognized for something that I love doing is like the cherry on an already too delicious sundae,� says Mike Nickel. �I�m really flattered at the whole situation. I�m honoured and incredibly thankful to Prairie Dog Film + Television for being recognized in such fashion.�

�It�s so rewarding to have an opportunity to contribute to the growth and advancement of the next generation of writers,� says Scott. �It was another tough year of decision making, however, Space Cadet was very well crafted and did a great job of fleshing out its characters and story world.�

Prairie Dog Film + Television was founded 18 years ago as Alberta�s underdog production company and has since risen to a position of leadership, with television productions such as Blackstone, Mixed Blessings, and My Green House. Today, its original content impacts a global audience and has received international acclaim.





Resources:

www.vfs.com