A film-making challenge with a difference

FILM CHALLENGE: Soon-to-be film and media graduate Jasmin Dos Santos of Gisborne seeks social funding for equipment and costs involved with the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, which will be held in Auckland next month.

A blind, street-corner piano player and crooner with a knock-out voice will soon be at the centre of a short movie by filmmaker Jasmin Dos Santos.

Gisborne-raised Dos Santos completed her film and media degree at Auckland University last year. She now plans to produce films and work collaboratively on film projects.

The project with the 29-year-old singer is part of a short film challenge similar to the 48-hour film competition. The difference is the film must feature someone with a disability.

For the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge in mid-April, blind singer and busker Jono Heaps will be at the centre of Dos Santos’ film.

Well-known in Auckland, Heaps is a talented singer, keyboard player, and harmonica player.

At the beginning of the competition, entrants are given a genre and props. The film has to be shot, edited and submitted by the end of the weekend.

Dos Santos is now on a fundraising mission to raise around $500 to cover costs to cover costs for equipment and gear hire, competition entry fee, petrol and parking.

Any extra money the crew raises will go towards props and costumes hire.

The crowdfunding link can be found at www.boosted.org.nz/projects/easterseals-disability-film-challenge. The deadline is April 3 and the film shoot runs April 14-16.

A trailer Dos Santos put together for her fundraising bid can be viewed at www.tinyurl.com/ya4a98c2

Information about the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge can be found at www.disabilityfilmchallenge.com/the-challenge.

The HP48Hours filmmaking challenge is Gisborne is open for early-bird registrations on April 10. The shoot weekend is May 11-13.