Top award for budding filmmakers

TOP HONOURS: Anneliese Tuarau-Jones (back from left), Esther Mackay, Morgan Pearce, Ben Caldwell, and Julian Godfrey (front) were among the winning members of team 'Squad' at the finals last year.

Forty-eight hours, one line, a genre, and a prop, as well as a whole lot of skill, was all it took to propel a school team into the big league.

The HP48Hours Film Competition saw Year 12 Havelock North High School team, 'Squad' take home the award for 'Best National School Team' at the Grand National Finals in Auckland late last year.

The competition saw budding filmmakers from around the country spend 48 hours brainstorming a story, shooting a film, editing the footage and submitting the finished product.

Squad was allocated time travel as its genre and the outcome was their winning film, Loop.

Havelock North High School English and Media Studies teacher, Simon Murfitt said it was a fantastic achievement to win the New Zealand award, as they were up against "some quality competition."

"Part of the reason they were so successful was that they had a go last year and won the prize for the 'Incredibly Strange Film' and they learnt a lot from that experience."

"This is a fantastic group and they really worked well together as a team - they all had clear roles. It is something positive to allow them to carry on in those areas. For the school, it is great to have a New Zealand title," Mr Murfitt said.

The team comprised of Esther Mackay, Ben Caldwell, Morgan Pearce, Ben Barker, Julian Godfrey, Jason Jarrett, and Anneliese Tuarau-Jones, with roles including director, editor, actors and production crew respectively.

Director, Miss Mackay said winning the award was a moment she would never forget.

"I want to be a director later in life, so it's really special for me to be able to know that I do have a chance and it is possible."

She said last year's success with the same team had spurred them on to compete again, but they entered for the experience rather than for the win.

"It was really incredible and the Nationals just made it. We did not expect to win at all, even at the regionals we were surprised. As far as we go, being able to finish the film and hand something in was an accomplishment."

Ms Mackay said the "support of the media department had been overwhelming."
The wannabe filmmaker found the task of creating a full story line in such a limited time to be the toughest part of the competition.

They were also winners at the regional finals held in Gisborne, where they won three prizes for best school team film, best use of line and best actress, which was awarded to Morgan Pearce.

However, Squad was not alone, with team 'About What' winning the best use of prop prize and two other teams being nominated.

HP48Hours Film Competition Gisborne City organiser, Tom Patton's prophecy came true after he stated that he "wouldn't be at all surprised to see them take the Best National School Team Award," saying that "it would take something special to beat them."

The school, who entered five teams; from years 11 through to 13, said it was the largest groups they had had and hoped to build on it for years to come.

The seven students, who will start their final year of High School in February, were excited to enter again, with no expectations and a love of filmmaking at the forefront.