Lights, Camera, Action! in El Dorado Hills

by Raeann Jones, Coordinator
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills

The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills partnered with young filmmaker Jacob Keller to create the Full Moon 24 Hour Film Festival. The film festival is a way to challenge and encourage emerging filmmakers between the ages of 12-18 and give them an opportunity to display their talents in scriptwriting, film shooting, effects, editing, production and post-production.

So what’s the twist? Making the movie where there is no script to begin with and they do it all in 24 hours! Now you have entered the zone of the 24 Hour Film Festival! At the kick-off event in May, each team was assigned specific elements that had to appear in the film, such as a specific line ("Do or do not, there is no try"), character name (Izzy Abel) and a prop item (flashlight). The elements had to be seen or heard on-screen to verify the authenticity of the 24-hour film.

The premiere screening of the films was at the Regal Cinemas in the El Dorado Hills Town Center on June 13. Wesley Kayne won Best Overall Story for the film CSI: Cameron Park, while Nick Garcia and his team won Most Creative Film for Them. The Audience Choice Award went to Alex Talbott and his team for Tales of Pufa and the Undefined Turtle. Prizes included plaques, participation certificates, Regal movie passes, digital mini-cassette tapes and other movie-related items donated by the Vision Coalition.

The Vision Coalition, a program of El Dorado Hills Community Vision, Inc., provides support for positive youth development opportunities. The coalition focuses on activities that increase knowledge and build strength, assets, skills and talents to help young people reach their highest potential, in ways that are safe, healthy and free from alcohol and drug use. According to Raeann Jones, coordinator of the Vision Coalition, “This is just one of the many opportunities where we encourage youth to express themselves and lend their ‘voice’ to the community in creative and artistic ways. We are always amazed and encouraged by what they have to say!”

The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is a REACH Community Action coalition.