A 'reel' look into youth filmmaking: Temecula Youth Festival wraps up tonight

By: NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | Tuesday, May 29, 2007 11:53 PM PDT ∞

TEMECULA -- Just after the first intermission of the Temecula Youth Film Festival on Tuesday evening, Matt Velare and Derek Mindiola, both 14, had already determined their plans for the summer: "We're going to start filming."

The two eighth-graders at Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School have their own movie-making experience, but didn't have enough time to enter the inaugural festival for films made by those 21 and under. After seeing the first set of seven short films, documentaries and music videos shown on the big screen of the Old Town Temecula Theater, the duo wanted in.

"When I first came (to the festival), I was expecting to see big effects and graphics, but they're doing the same things I can do," Derek said. "I definitely plan on entering next year. I actually want to go somewhere in my life with movie-making."

And that was the picture-perfect reaction that Temecula Community Services Director Herman Parker had desired. He wants to see the festival grow larger with more participants and hopes the festival will foster the talent of young people.

"This is a good start for the festival," Parker said of the 21 entries. "Who knows how many works of future producers or directors we might see tonight?"

Inside the theater, about 60 people took time to watch the entries, which, just like any independent film festival, had a fair share of awkward experimental work. There were some pieces that mesmerized with slow motion black-and-white or solarized cinematography.

There were entries that featured comedy and kung fu. Even the Berlin Airlift got some screen time. The editing ranged from seamless to choppy. But even with shortcomings in lighting or sound, each film had intent, imagination and a story -- silly or serious -- to relay.

Just before the second film session of the night was about to get started, a nervous film entrant sought the reassurance of John Flohr, a festival director.

"Why did you pick my film?" asked Nick Seider, who filmed and directed "Middle School," a 12-minute drama.

"Because it was good," Flohr responded. "This isn't Hollywood. We're looking for content, effort and potential."

The answer seemed to satisfy Nick, 13, whose film has been nominated for best drama.

The two-day festival wraps up today beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a red carpet entrance and an hour of films from 6:15 p.m to 7:30 p.m. in the theater at 42051 Main St. The awards ceremony that will honor the filmmakers and their works is scheduled to begin at 7:50 p.m. Tickets for the festival are $5 apiece.

"I've been getting a lot of e-mails wanting to know what the kids should wear," Flohr said of the awards ceremony. "I tell them to dress for Oscar night -- their Oscar night."

Martin Betz, Temecula's cultural arts administrator, pitched the idea for a youth film venue in November 2006. The city got behind the effort and within seven months, the festival was in action. Betz said plans are already under way for next year, and he anticipates at least doubling the number of entries. Betz said he has received calls from film schools in Boston as well as others from the East Coast that have expressed a desire to have their students' works shown.

"The word has gotten out," Betz said.

-- Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.