Local teens sweep awards at film festival

By Stephanie Bertholdobertholdo@theacorn.com

Justin Choh and Ethan Kuperberg Several young, aspiring teenaged filmmakers earned awards for their original short films, which were featured recently at the 2005 Conejo Teen Video Festival.

Ethan Kuperberg, who just completed his sophomore year at Agoura High School, is a veteran filmmaker and he’s only 16In April, Kuperberg won severaawards at the Calabasas Method Fest for his shorfilm, “A Trip to the Barbershop,” which showcased the difficulty he had saying goodbye to his wild afro hair style.

His latest triumph, “Anthony in the Key of B” swept four out of nine categories at the Conejo Teen Video Festival awards, including Best Overall Video, Best Technical Achievement (editing, sound design and visual effects), Most Original and Best Actor for the debut performance of Justin Choh, 16, of Agoura High School.

Winners of the competition were announced at a ceremony staged at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Scherr Forum Theatre on June 29.

Kuperberg said he was forced to edit his film to half the original length to fit the 10-minute short film format. The story is about a student who obsesses over getting admitted to Harvard University. Kuperberg said he was inspired to create the film because many students his age hyper-focus on winning admission to an Ivy League college.

Most students, however, don’t break out into song as they pine for higher education. “Anthony in the Key of B” was a musical comedy that spoofed the genre.

“I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh,” said Kuperberg. “I was surprised and I was honored and thrilled that people laughed at my film—in a good way.”

Kuperberg added that he was indebted to his friends, who devoted several months of time helping him produce the film. He noted that while he wrote, produced and directed the film, including the lyrics to the five musical scores, the music was composed by his friend and classmate A.J. Holmes.

Kuperberg’s mother, Elaine, said her son “has a passion for what he does. His movies keep getting better and better. He’s just wonderful behind a camera.”

The Best Documentary award went to Aaron Blum, a 15-yearold Thousand Oaks High School student. His film, “What is Cicada?” chronicles how a teen band, named after the noisy insect, formed, recorded its first CD and prepared for a show. Blum also documented an actual performance of Cicada.

Blum said that he shot the film at the Whiskey a Go-Go in Hollywood and in Ojai at a recording studio.

Blum said that he first entered the Conejo Teen Video Festival when he was 12-years-old. This year marks his fourth year entering a film nto the festival. Last year, Blum won the Best Videographer award in the 15-years and under category.

So far, Blum has focused his creative flair in documentary film makng, but he said he’s also written screen plays, which he expects to develop into

ilms some day.

“I have trouble getting away from

es because I have so documentaries because I have so much fun making them,” said Blum.

“(Winning) was pretty cool because (this) was my fourth year I was committed to the documentary category. (This) was my first year winning,” said Blum. “I’m so used to not hearng my name called, I was surprised. I’ve always been nominated, but this is the first time I won.”

Blum’s next project involves raising money. He hopes to travel with the Opera

ion Footprint medical team to Honduras to document the charitable work of doctors who perform surgery on children with club feet who otherwise could not afford the surgery.

High school and middle school students submitted 42 video entries in this year’s fes

ival. The 20 finalists were chosen by three members of the festival committee, two representatives from the Conejo Recreation and Park District, and one representative from Brooks Institute of Photography, the event sponsor.

The Best Music Video was awarded to Thomas Reiten, 16, of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, for his video “Shine Your Light.”

From Moorpark High School, Kellen Moore, 16, won the Best Screenplay award for her film “Stranded.”