Identity crises moved the hearts and captured the attention of judges in the Film/Animation category of the 2020 Orange County Artist of the Year contest.
Whether it was a story of a relationship doomed by the cultural, religious and racial divides, an exploration of identity and self, or being caught on a wheel of ambition and expectation, the student artists of 2020 turned inward in thought-provoking ways.
At the top of the list was Zayd Ezzeldine, who claimed Artist of the Year in a strong field of semifinalists in the specialties of cinematography, animation and visual effects, and directing and editing.
In showing talent in all aspects from storytelling to overall production values, the Irvine High senior got the nod.
Judges were particularly impressed with his original submission “Roots,” a deeply personal tale. Set to the haunting song “Half A Man,” by Dean Lewis, it tells of a budding relationship between a Muslim-American boy and a white girl trapped within and separated by the divisions in modern American culture.
“With ‘Roots,’ Zayd shows his ability for compassionate filmmaking, masterfully telling a personal story beautifully and emotionally without words,” wrote Aaron Orullian, director of the film and television conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts..
Ezzeldine, who will attend Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, called the making of “Roots,” “absolutely draining.”
Ezzeldine said the film, based on his own experience and identity as a Muslim-American teenager, was his first attempt to talk about the subject.
“I never really hid my religion, but it’s not something I advertised about myself,” he said. “I kind of put myself all out there.”
However, Ezzeldine is about more than teen angst, which he showed in his John Wick parody.
While it may not be hip among young, aspiring filmmakers, Ezzeldine said he really, really likes the action genre.
In a whimsical take, a Wick-esque character fights off a band of would-be home invading assassins.
However, instead of guns, the characters fight with rubber balls, like those found on playgrounds. With Wickish dispatch, the star racks up an impressive body count in 1 minute, 58 seconds. This all leads to the punchline in the film which is called “Paraballum,”’ instead of “Parabellum,” the actual name of the third Wick movie.
In addition to the storytelling, judges were impressed with Ezzeldine’s skills with blocking, light and use of color.
The Finalists
The Film/Animation category is divided into three specialties: cinematography, directing and editing, and animation and visual effects.
Ezzeldine is the finalist in cinematography. He was also a semifinalist last year in the same specialty.
Maggie McKelvey, a recent senior from Orange County School of the Arts, is the animation and visual effects finalist. Her animated film “Who Am I,” combines animation, stop motion, paper animation and pixelation. It is about an ambiguous character exploring his identity and trying to find himself. The piece was recognized by Westflix and the Screen Student Film Festival.
“I was very impressed by ‘Who Am I’ and also really taken by Maggie as an artist,” said Alexis Karol, a theater teacher and director at Laguna High.
In directing and editing, Yingzhou “Tracy” Yan, a recent senior from Orange Lutheran High, was named the finalist. She presented “Happy Life,” a film with a “Broken Mirrors” feel and a twist ending about a woman looking to escape the stresses of her ambitions and family expectations.
Artist of the Year is generously sponsored by the Chapman University College of Performing Arts. Additional support is provided by the Laguna College of Art + Design and the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University.
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June 28, 2020 at 09:58PM
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Artist of the Year for film/animation: Zayd Ezzeldine - OCRegister
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