LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Best Director

  • CHCA Junior Gabe Schmidt Wins Kids Film It Festival

    CHCA Junior Gabe Schmidt Wins Kids Film It Festival

    Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy junior Gabe Schmidt claimed the Best Animated Film award at the Kids Film It Festival on November 11th in Cleveland – his second film festival victory in three months.

    Schmidt’s stop-motion short, “The Man with a Plan,” was honored during the awards show at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His prize was a GoPro camera. In late August in Cincinnati, that same work earned the Best Film award in the Teen Film Challenge, when Schmidt was also honored with the Best Director and Best Screenplay awards.

    Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy junior Gabe Schmidt being presented the Best Animated Film award by Ryan Levine, the festival’s founder.

    The Kids Film It Festival is the brainchild of 14-year-old Ryan Levine of Cleveland. After his grandmother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Levine started the festival in 2016 as a way to raise money for a cure.

    With filmmakers ranging in ages 8-18 from across the country, the festival drew more than 100 entries this year among three categories (Animated Film, Short Film, and Music Video). This year’s event raised more than $46,000, with all proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

    Levine emceed the red-carpet screenings and presented Schmidt with his award.

    “The event was very cool,” Schmidt said. “It was all for a good cause, so I was glad to be a part of it.”

    16-year-old Schmidt created his stop-motion animated film in August using Lego figures. The story centers on a bank heist, and he filmed it in his basement using only an iPhone. CHCA graduate Carter Jackson ’17 voiced a character and contributed the film’s original score.

    Schmidt is a member of CHCA’s audio/visual production team, led by teacher Adam Cool. Schmidt has been producing short films for four years and has 5,473 subscribers on his YouTube channel, GDS Studios.

    He is also a member of the CHCA Varsity Soccer Team and Academic Team, and he performs in the school plays and in Academy Night Live.

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  • LHS senior Stone Taul wins Best Director at All American High School Film Festival

    LHS senior Stone Taul wins Best Director at All American High School Film Festival

    Taul’s film was selected from more than 2,000 entries

    Taul’s film tells the story of a young man struggling with the loss of his mother, and the added responsibility of caring for his brother with special needs while battling drug addiction.
    Stone Taul and Sam Smith

    Loveland High School (LHS) Senior Stone Taul has earned the title of Best Director at the All American High School Film Festival Sunday on Oct. 8, in New York City for his drama, Viceroy, which Taul wrote, acted in and directed. Taul’s film – which tells the story of a young man struggling with the loss of his mother, and the added responsibility of caring for his brother with special needs while battling drug abuse – was selected for the 2017 festival from over 2,000 national and international entries.

    “I was shocked when my name was called,” said Taul. “There were so many talented directors and filmmakers from all over the world. I feel honored that I was selected.”

    “We could not be prouder of the creative endeavors Stone has been a part of during his tenure at Loveland High School,” said LHS Principal Peggy Johnson. “He is a stand-out talent, and this recognition he earned is well deserved.”

    LHS Senior, and Loveland Magazine writer, photographer, and videographer, Sam Smith, was the cinematographer and assistant director for Viceroy.

    In addition to winning Best Director, Taul’s movie Viceroy, was nominated for Best Drama and Best Overall Film. LHS Senior Sam Smith was the cinematographer for Viceroy, and other LHS contributors included: co-starring Jon Parker (2017 grad), audio Dean Parker (2016 grad), and crew members and current students Sam Sauer and Tommy Blair, with a cameo by Jonah Smith. Taul traveled with Sam Smith, Tommy Blair and Sam Sauer to New York to participate in the film festival events (screenings, networking events, college fair), and attended the red carpet awards event held at the historic Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York. Viceroy is Taul’s major directorial debut.

    Dean Parker (2016 LHS grad), a former intern at Loveland Magazine and current Ohio University student, produced the audio for Viceroy.

    “There is so much hidden talent in Loveland,” said Taul. “I was able to pull together a small, but super talented team of filmmakers and a couple of friends who just wanted to help. Sam Smith was there for me throughout the whole project. I couldn’t have done it without him and I’m grateful to my friend, Dean Parker, for all of his encouragement along the way.”

    The All American High School Film Festival is the world’s largest high school film festival with submissions from over 40 countries and all 50 states.  The festival’s judges are made up of directors, producers, actors and writers from some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Taul had two films (Viceroy & Tunnels) officially selected. The films were screened at the Times Square AMC 25 theater in New York.

    Taul has also received filmmaking accolades from the Cincinnati Teen Film Challenge, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and charitable/community organizations, and he is the co-founder of the LHS Film Club. Taul plans to study film in California after graduation.

    Watch Viceroy

    Watch Highlights from the All American High School Film Festival

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