Students from New York University and Pasadena's Art Center School of Design took first place for animation in the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation's 24th Annual College Television Awards Competition. The winners, along with students in live-action categories, were flown in from all across the country to be honored at a special awards gala on March 16, 2003 at the St. Regis Hotel in Los Angeles, during which they had the opportunity to meet with industry leaders at the invitation-only ceremony. Students were also matched up with industry mentors to host them at the gala and be available for future support. The event was emceed by Donald Logue, who stars in WB's GROUNDED FOR LIFE. Celebrity presenters for animation were Tom Kenny (SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS) and E.G. Daily (RUGRATS and The POWERPUFF GIRLS). Presenters reminded the young filmmakers to remember them kindly as they will soon be in a position to hire them on their productions. Logue lamented the rise of reality shows in television, saying, "The reality show is the decline of western civilization." He also was incredibly impressed with the level of the entries. He told the winners, "You're smart enough, you're good enough. You dont need anything more than the creative fervor we saw displaced in these films." Dan Blank from New York University took top honors in traditional animation for his film SHADOWPLAY. David Zackin from Rhode Island School of Design placed second for his TUNANOODA, while Nikki Hyun Jeong Yang from Cal Arts was third for DEMITRI'S VIOLIN. First place for non-traditional animation (meaning computer-generated) went to Joey Jones and Wira Winata of Art Center College of Design for LITTLE RED PLANE. Kristin Solid of UCLA placed second for her MATCH SCRATCH FEVER and Don Phillips from Ringling School of Art and Design took third for PASSING MOMENTS. The first and second place winners told AWN they used Maya for their non-traditional entries. Jones and Winata have formed their own production company in Pasadena, California called Shadedbox Animations and have already produced a commercial spot for Bacchus Energy drink. They are represented by the leading animation talent agency The Gotham Group, as is traditional animation first place winner Blank. First place winners were awarded $2,000, second place $1,000 and third place $500 in all categories. First and second place winners also received the Eastman Product Grant sponsored by the Kodak Worldwide Student Program in cooperation with the Academy, which provided first place winners with $2,000 of film stock; second place with $1,000 of film stock. Kodak is also presenting the first place winners in a showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, giving the filmmakers access to all the activities during the world's premiere film event. The winning entries were screened at the Academy's College Television Awards Festival Monday, March 17 hosted by Perry Simon, president of Viacom Productions, at ATAS' Goldenson Theater. The College Television Awards is one of several ongoing programs supported by the ATAS Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the history and artistry of television for posterity and utilizing it to guide the future. Additional programs supported through the ATAS Foundation include the Archive of American Television, the Student Internship Program, College Faculty Seminar and the Visiting Professionals Program. For the rest of the winners check out www.emmys.com/foundation.
Check out a review of SHADOWPLAY by Maureen Furniss.
