Welmac MovieFest 2003

Movies

The Schools Finalists are:

The Hobbyist Finalists are:

Deserving special mention, but not making it to the finals, were:

  • Testament - Sparrow Studios - Michael Travis
  • Travelling Bag - Team Niccol - MD Niccol
  • Grandad Jimmy - Flers Street Productions - Stephen McArthur
  • Going Nowhere - Kaos Marshmellows - Bennie Johnston
  • The Robber and the Second Fastest Runner - Miramar North School - Room 5
  • Yesterday, Tommorow for Today - Bayfield High School - Rob Wood

We also now have available the DVD containing footage of the Awards Ceremony - including parts of the excellent Lord of the Rings presentation by Scott Houston and the presentations of awards. The DVD contains copies of all the finalists movies, and we even managed to fit a couple on that didn't quite make it to the finals, but were worthy of merit. If you have sent us a pre-order already then your copy has been reserved, and once receipt of payment is received via email these will be sent to you. To cover costs of production and duplication we have set the price for this excellent record of MovieFest 2003 at $25 (postage included).
A copy can be purchased by direct deposit in WelMacs bank account or by arrangement:

Wellington Macintosh Society Incorporated
Westpac Banking Corporation
210 High Street, Lower Hutt
Account: 03 0531 0347724 00

Voting

If you've seen a movie you really like, then remember the details and vote in person by visiting the Finalist Screenings as part of the Digital Solutions Expo on Saturday September 27th 2003.  Your vote counts towards the Viewers Choice award, so go ahead and vote for your favourite. If you vote in person at the Finalist Screenings you could win yourself valuable spot prizes throughout the day.

Entrant number or

The Finalists

The Quest for the Gingerbread man - The Baker Family
Jake decides to search for a Gingerbread Man. On this journey of fun and fantasy, he encounters some well-known characters. There is problem-solving, determination, discovery, excitement, fear, relief and joy. This is a family friendly movie that will appeal to all ages.

Fragments of Memories - Hillcrest High School - Nick Johnston
Fragments of Memories is a moving story of a teenage boys' spiritual journey, and the profound effect a past event has had on his life. The journey/story begins in a typical New Zealand school just before the hometime bell goes. The boy sits, surrounded by familiar faces. However, certain objects and his surroundings trigger memories of a past event. One that he regrets. Through the course of the story, the fragments of his memories are collected. And at the end of his journey, this key event is revealed.

The Bookmark - St Clair School
Mars SceneAlthough this plain bookmark had been in so many books during his lifetime, including Oliver Twist, Alice in Wonderland, The Twits, and all the Harry Potter books, he was bored beyond belief. Not only was he subjected to readers in the library that read at a snails pace, but he was never satisfied with any of the books he was in. He was constantly waiting for an opportunity to escape and take part in an amazing adventure all of his own. The only problem was, he needed three key elements of escape to come together to make it work:
1. No curious children or suspicious librarians watching.
2. An open window, just so he could slide through with no trouble.
3. A Norwest wind blowing, so it would carry him out the window easily.
Believe it or not, on the first day, of the first month, at the beginning of the year 2005, an amazing thing happened. The caretaker left the main window open, whilst the librarian was at home with the flu. Also that day Jim Hickey had predicted there would be a strong breeze through town. Although the bookmark thought that the weather was always wrong on T.V, he had a funny feeling that Jim Hickey just might be telling the truth this time...

Red's Fantastical Journey - St James School (Aranui)
This short animation film has taken a well known fairy tale and given it a twist. Red Riding Hood is off to her Granny's with a basket of goodies. On her journey she meets a wolf and well, you know the rest.... or do you??   Written, created and produced by a group of five 8 & 9 year olds and overseen by their ICT teacher, this was their first effort at creating a clay animation movie. The children were so keen on the process that they willingly gave up lunchtimes to complete the movie by the competition deadline.
They are thrilled to have made it to the final five and would like to take this opportunity to thank their class teacher, Principal and the St James School pupils for the time and resources to undertake this production.

The Dangers of Travelling to School III - Liquid Metal Productions - Burnside High School (Christchurch) - Simon Mitchell & Thomas Liberty
Liquid Metal Productions brings you "The Dangers of Travelling to School III", an action-packed comedy about three high school students and the problems they run into on their way to school. Their numerous mishaps and misfortunes will make teachers think twice the next time one of their students comes up with an unlikely excuse.

The Journey - Alan Eddy (and Family)
There are some appointments that will change our lives.  The secret is determining which ones!  Follow a man who chooses to keep just such an appointment.  A not unexpected message arrives at the office.
"Bring the case but not the phone"
The immediate response is to start a journey alone.  He will not be alone for much longer.  Training is everything!

On the Road - One Take Productions - Jeremy Johnston / Matthew Waterhouse
As Vince sits in class dreaming of playing in front of a packed crowd at Madison Square Gardens, flying V in hand, he is brought back to reality with Hilman's nagging voice. Soon after, Vince makes a discovery that will change him and his struggling four piece Rock band forever but a twist reveals that there is more to this journey than meets the eye. An epic story of friendship, action, and rock n' roll.

Train of Thought - Powerhouse Films - Xavier, Adrian and Alexander Watts
We listen to the thoughts of six people travelling from Johnsonville to Wellington on the Train. Along the way, they each undertake their own individual journeys towards sanity, love, friendship and God.

Home is where the heart is - Myra Wootton
This film is a true story of a young man and woman who voyaged out to N.Z from England independently in the early 1900¹s hoping to make their fortune. The young man settled on the West Coast of the S.I. working as a well paid miner enjoying the support of relatives and the fellowship of other English north country people there. The young woman was abandoned by her employers in Wellington so spent a lonely three years working in various areas of the Wairarapa in domestic service - her sole aim being to return home to her family in the south of England.  By chance they both returned to England on the same ship . He was off for a well-earned holiday while she was going home to be with her family with no wish to return. Their paths cross as the voyage brings them together and difficult decisions must be made.

Departure - Christopher Taine / James Conway-Law
In a state of confusion our subjects wake up in an unfamiliar home of a helpful stranger, matters only manage to get more perplexing as the stranger takes them to a train for a journey of realisation.