Film festival winners announced

Students’ short films were showcased at the 2nd annual What The Film festival on Wed. sponsored by ASCSM.

A total of six films were shown to 70 spectators at the main theater. Three giant checks were awarded to winners in lieu of trophies.

“It was a concept that carried over from last semester,” said Regina Ramos, head of programs and services for ASCSM. “We were working with a new group, so I was a bit worried about how it would turn out, but it went well.”

The three categories for the festival were adaptation, commercial and sequel. The judges picked two of the best films in each category to be showcased.

In the Adaptation category, the two films shown were “Operation: Grandma” and “The Raven”. “Operation: Grandma,” take-off of Little Red Riding Hood, won the People’s Choice award of $150.

“I was happy to win an award that reflects the people’s thoughts because it is for them who we made this for,” said Manuel Orbegozo, who submitted and acted in the film. “It was a wonderful experience being the main actor.”

“The Raven,” an adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe poem of the same name, won the $450 prize for the best in category, however, as voted by the judges.

“I’m so grateful to the film community at CSM for this great honor,” said John Villar, director of “The Raven.” “I definitely plan on coming back and checking out future festivals here.”

In the Commercial category, “Hear Something,” a parody of the popular smartphone application “Draw Something” won the first place prize.

The runner up in the commercial category was “41 Yards” a Nike commercial featuring CSM football player Tevita Lataimua.

“I had a lot of helping hands,” said Andrew Butte director of “41 Yards”. “We shot the beach scene at Ocean Beach at five in the morning. It was the only time (Lataimua) was available.”

In the Sequel category, the winning film was “Saw 12,” a follow up to the popular horror series that features a sadistic madman named “Jigsaw” who tortures his victims. In the film, submitted by Erasmo Martinez, Campus Life Editor at The San Matean, Jigsaw kidnaps a young man and forces him to listen to obnoxious pop music.

The film was designed to a be a commentary on the negative effect repetition has on society, said Martinez.

“Filming it was pretty fun but it was also difficult because I was chained up to a wall up to five hours straight,” said Martinez. “I am glad that we won although I did not expect it.”