The inaugural screening of the finals of the New Zealand regionals of the International Youth Silent Film Festival will take place at the Addison Theatre, Baycourt on Saturday 22nd October 2016
A year or two ago one of ARTbop’s contributors asked to attend and review a Wurlitzer performance by a young American organist Nathan Avakian. Despite my ingrained love of organ music of all kinds I agreed. But the gods of music had other plans and at the last-minute I was required to remove my gumboots and work gloves and hot foot it up to Baycourt. It was one of the best times I’ve had in the Addison Theatre and, since arriving in Tauranga I’ve been there a lot.
The Baycourt Wurlitzer is one of those old-fashioned theatre organs. The kind that accompanied the “silent” films. It can create zillions of sounds and sound effects. Watching it being played is like watching a musical marathon. Progress and technology have removed many Wurlitzer from theatre reality but those that remain are treasured icons; none more so than the Baycourt specimen.
Included in that Avakian Baycourt performance was a film of the winners of The International Youth Silent Film Festival. Avakian had been asked to compose and play the set musical pieces against which young filmmakers create their own short silent films It was magic and I recall writing that we should bring the IYSFF to Tauranga. And, Baycourt under the stewardship of Megan Peacock-Coyle has done just that.
In 2015 I’m invited to a Baycourt promotional evening for the New Zealand section of IYSFF. The founder of the award-winning not-for-profit organisation, American Jon (JP) Palanuk speaks from his heart about the impact a live theatre organ concert had on him. “So inspired by what he heard, he decided to create a competition where young filmmakers can create their own silent movies” Starting in 2009: the competition is now in its seventh year.
It isn’t a big crowd but among it are two enthusiastic young people from Katikati College. What was required of entrants: This is a competition for filmmakers who must be 20 years old or under at 15 April of the year of submitting. Filmmakers must choose from one of 10 pre-recorded musical themes composed by Nathan Avakian upon which to base their film . The musical theme cannot be modified. The film has to be suitable for all ages and cannot include “copywrited” material.
The musical themes are: Romance, Action, Horror, Slapstick, Mystery, Science Fiction, Hero, Western, Noir, Discovery. The theme is downloaded from the IYSFF website and included with the submitted film entry. Winning entries are performed with live musical accompaniment matching the chosen musical theme. Entries closed on 1st September and will be judged by a jury including a celebrity Juror.
And, the first, second and third placed films from the New Zealand regional competition automatically go forward to the International Award competition of June 2017 in Portland Oregon where they join the top three films from the American and Australian regional competitions. “IYSFF plan a full week of activities for those who can make the journey”
The New Zealand Regionals will be held in the Addison Theatre, Baycourt on Saturday 22nd October 2016 at 7pm. Make sure you’re there for the start of what will develop into a major youth-focused festival for our region and a fabulous role for the Baycourt Wurlitzer.
Take a look at www.makesilentfilm.com/rules.html
IYSFF founded by Jon JP Palanuk in collaboration with Thanhauser Company Film Preservation Inc. IYSFF is a 501(c)3 Not for Profit registered in the State of Oregon.
Some of the content in the above article is from a Baycourt and IYSFF promotional brochure.
Rosemary Balu. Rosemary Balu is the founding and current editor of ARTbop. Rosemary has arts and law degrees from the University of Auckland. She has been a working lawyer and has participated in a wide variety of community activities where information gathering, submission writing, community advocacy and education have been involved. Interested in all forms of the arts since childhood Rosemary is focused on further developing and expanding multi-media ARTbop as the magazine for all the creative arts in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
