1st Place
Ramon DomporThe Seattle Times
Judges Comments
1 - Clean, simple, shot well. Interviews look and sound good. Farmers deliver a clear message about how they think they are being sustainable. 2 - Visually well put together. The message is clear, growing from the audio and the visuals. IT would be improved if the shooting was a bit less this, then that, but rather built into more complex scenes with wide, medium and tight shots -- this story begs for more tight shots.
2nd Place
Yfat YossiforFort Worth Star-Telegram
Judges Comments
"Emotional, powerful. Well done creating a bit of an unanswered question throughout.. and especially in the opener. Knew something bad had happened and you gradually allowed us to learn more.
Only very minor critique: was that her in a black sweater holding the sonogram? That shot was used three times and found them a bit distracting.. not only for the continuity wearing different clothes, but now face shown, etc. Wonder if there was a different way to shoot that part or at least use less of it." 2 - The opening scene that cuts to the interview is super compelling. The events she details are maddening. So, this film serves a purpose. But it isn't a film as much as it is an interview, a report. That's appropriate for this, becaseu too much broll could take away from the impact of watching a person tell about a harrowing and horrifying experience. Careful about using one prop (the ultrasound picture too often. It loses a lot of power each time we see it. Better to forego broll than to use it over and over again.
3rd Place
Blair Waltman-AlexinDecibel at Austin PBS
Judges Comments
1 - Cherrelle is a great character and the visuals work well most of the time. The biggest issue with this short film is that we don't ever get to know what the real problem is -- why is the water so expensive and what is wrong with it that this neighborhood is having to buy filters, softeners, etc? 2 - Good reporting. B-roll sequences are well-contructed. Bathroom scene goes on a bit long. Audio is working well overall (could sub to avoid the noisy lav @ 3:09). Overall could lose about a minute out of this piece and it wouldn't drag.
Judges: Torsten Kjellstrand/University of Oregon, Wes Pope/University of Oregon
