Animated bugs take out Cut! 2012

A quirky stop-motion film has won top prize at the Cut! national secondary schools short video competition.

In ‘Entymology II – The Sequin’, directed by Portia McLean and Stephen Clothier from Karamu High School, a matronly praying mantis is disturbed by a relentless saleswoman when baking cupcakes. Naturally, chaos ensues.

Students, parents and teachers came from around the country to the awards screening at Wintec House on Sunday 28 October. Short films were showcased by the 10 finalist teams.

Margi Moore, Head of Wintec’s School of Media Arts, said the screening was a wonderful event, providing an opportunity to celebrate the fabulous talent of the country’s secondary school filmmakers.

The award winners are:

Best Film:                                             ‘Entymology II – The Sequin’, directed by Portia McLean and Stephen Clothier, Karamu High School

Runner up Best Film:                           ‘Dancing Dream’, directed by Ruth Germon, Hauraki Plains College

Best Director:                                       Ruth Germon, Hauraki Plains College

Best Editor:                                          ‘Carousel’, directed by Jordan Leader-Tainui, Kaiapoi High School

United Sweets Best ‘Sweet As’ Story  ‘Dancing Dream’, directed by Ruth Germon, Hauraki Plains College

Best Original Music:                             ‘Parallel Lives’, directed by Tarina Trifonoff, homeschooled (Tauranga).

Best Sound Design:                             ‘Carousel’, directed by Jordan Leader-Tainui, Kaiapoi High School

Best Performance:                               Lead character from ‘Something More Realistic’, directed by Emily Bisset, Hauraki Plains College

Best Script:                                          ‘Entymology II – The Sequin’, directed by Portia McLean and Stephen Clothier, Karamu High School

Best Special Effects:                            ‘Polaroid’, directed by Alex Saunders & Cameron Robertson, Western Heights High School

Best Cinematography:                          ‘Carousel’, directed by Jordan Leader-Tainui, Kaiapoi High School

All the films were much enjoyed by the audience, Cut! Co-ordinator Dawn Tuffery said, and 2012 provided a great selection of work.

“It was also nice to see students and school teams return several years running. The winners this year were also finalists in 2010 with the original ‘Entymology’, so we’ll be interested in what they make next.”

The competition attracted 41 entries from Bay of Islands to Wakatipu. Prizes included an Apple iMac computer and Avid editing software for the winners’ school, scholarships to Wintec’s School of Media Arts, Whitcoulls and JB Hi Fi Vouchers, a $250 United Sweets voucher and a recording session at Wintec’s Music facilities.

Cut! is in its 9th year and would not be possible without support from dedicated sponsors Ricoh, Avid, Protel, United Sweets and the School of Media Arts, Wintec.