Kang, Park named top filmmakers at Int’l Thespian Festival

Ryan Kang and James Park of Marianas High School were both recognized as the top filmmakers in this year’s International Thespian Festival that was held virtually from June 22 to 26.

According to Harold Easton, chapter director of Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands, the highlight of this year’s International Thespian Festival for Team CNMI was the awarding of the top film recognition to MHS animation filmmakers Kang and Park.

“This recognition marks the No. 1 film presenter in the festival and [is acknowledged] at the ‘The International Excellence Awards Showcase’ at the close of the festival. This is the second year members of the MHS filmmaking team have been recognized as the No. 1 in film,” he said.

Kang and Park topped 2,400 students from 46 states and eight countries who participated in the virtual event.

Kang and Park said they started working on their animated film in October 2019.

“We brainstormed multiple ideas and decided on one to work with. Afterwards, we held weekly meetings outside of school to solely focus on the video,” Kang said.

Park said they spent most of their time modeling characters using vectors from different sources, and creating objects for an eye-popping experience.

“In every regional competition, we took the judges’ feedback into great consideration, and further developed and updated our video to make our message more compelling and our animation more interesting,” he said.

Both Kang and Park said that the COVID-19 pandemic stopped their work for a while, but they regularly met online to prepare for the festival.

Kang and Park’s animated film, A White World, was the only entry featured on the main stage. The film was about e-cigarettes/vape use among teens, and received high ratings during the festival.

The CNMI team included participants from Marianas High School and Dandan Middle School.

AWARDS

Technical Theatre and Film
James Park and Ryan Kang – Film (Animation): Excellent with one overall Superior ballot, plus significant Superior ratings in various categories on the other two ballots.
Vladimir Palma and Vivian Liu – Film (Documentary): Excellent with a Superior Evaluation in Cinematography, Audio and Editing

Jody Coloma – Theater Marketing: Excellent

Carlyne Ada and Katherine Magat – Short Film: Submission being reevaluated by the Education Theatre Association

Performances
Bernice Shane Sabino – Solo Musical: All Superior rated ballots

Boni Gio Sagana – Solo Musical: Excellent and one overall Superior ballot

Jonathan Wolf and Anastacia Shamanaeva – Duet Acting: Excellent with a Superior evaluation in acting transitions and voice.

Betty Matson – Solo Musical: Excellent

College Call Backs
Bonnie Gio Sagana of MHS – Drama Major, scholarship offer from Midland University in Nebraska. He received call backs from other 20 colleges, including Loyola New Orleans, Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Columbia College Chicago, New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, AMDA in New York City, Southern Missouri State University, Carroll College in Montana, Ohio University, Webster University in Missouri, Nebraska Wesleyan, Hussian College, Ohio Northern University, University of Arizona, Drake University, Berry College, St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, Carthage College in Chicago, The New School – College of Performing Arts, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Catawba College.

Macy Manzanares of MHS – Drama Minor, received call backs from Oklahoma City University, University of Arizona – Tier 1 University, The New School – College of Performing Arts, Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Cornish College of Arts, Carthage College, and AMDA College.