Simi's AMP Studios plays host to Christian film competition
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

Filmmakers from the SONScreen Film Festival

Christian filmmakers from across the country gathered at Simi Valley's AMP Studios last weekend for the fifth annual SONScreen Film Festival, a three-day event that features the work of "upandcoming filmmakers who want to create relevant productions about social awareness."

"We want films that matter," said Stacia Wright, SONScreen producer and founder. "We're looking for filmmakers who want to make works of integrity, who want to break into the motion picture industry but still be able to maintain their faith."

It was the second year in a row that the festival, which is sponsored by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church, chose Simi Valley as a location.

According to Wright, the city's proximity to the country's entertainment capital and the state-of-the-art facilities at AMP- a full-function production studio run by the Seventhday Adventist Church- attracted festival organizers to Simi.

"We wanted our young filmmakers to be able to network with industry professionals, and it was an easy drive for the pros to make the trip from Hollywood up to Simi Valley," Wright said. "And we liked the fact that it was a little bit outside of the city."

Saturday night's awards ceremony, held at AMP's newly renovated Adventist Media Center, marked the end of festival.

Of the 58 films submitted to SONScreen this year, 32 were chosen to be screened at the event. Each was put in one of eight categories: animation, comedy, documentary, drama/narrative, music video, public service announcement, high school/academic and international.

Each winner received a $250 prize and the grand prize winner, J.R. Rogers, received $3,000.

Rogers' drama, "Three Courses," was named "Best in Fest." The film presented three different couples in a Napa Valley restaurant finding, losing and reestablishing their love over the course of dinner. Rogers credited his fellow classmates with helping him to create the film.

"This was so unexpected- out of all the films I wasn't thinking ours would win," said Rogers, a senior at Pacific Union College in Angwin, Calif. "This was a product of a class effort, and I couldn't have done it without them."

Aric Turlington's entry won for best high school film, and as a result, the senior from Florida was offered scholarships from Pacific Union College, Columbia Union College and Southern Adventist University.

His public service announcement, "The Light," showed how a person's actions can impact others and either aid them in life or cause them to stray from their path.

With graduation just a month away, Turlington said he's looking forward to touring each college and to creating future projects with the new friends he made at SONScreen.

"I applied to all three schools but haven't made my mind up as to where to go," Turlington said. "Being at the film festival I've made friends with students at PUC, and we're planning to work on a long distance project together."

Many of the films, such as "Safe Surrender," a documentary about child abandonment, took an original stance on difficult issues that people face every day.

According to Fred Kinsey, assistant to the president of the North American Division of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the church can no longer push these issues aside.

"The church needs new ways of communicating with people, and what these films are doing is bringing out the truth in ways that nobody has done before, at least as far as Adventist church is concerned," he said.

"We want to show that the church is interested in what people have to say and how they say it." Kinsey added. "We are looking for people that have something interesting to say."

The film festival was originally created to nurture Christian filmmakers and their craft, Wright said. Entrants participate in career development workshops and receive guidance from Hollywood professionals over three days in an environment where they can network with fellow filmmakers, she said.

"When I was growing up there wasn't a program like this to support talented artists," Wright said. "The niche for Christian filmmakers isn't as small as people think, and this festival is one of the ways we are trying to promote their talents."

Filmmaking is a craft that can go in many different directions, said Stephen Eyer, film instructor at Pacific Union College. SONScreen gives filmmakers of all levels a medium to present their works and to learn from one another.

"I'm interested in watching people grow over the years," Eyer said. "Many filmmakers come back year after year, and it's always inspiring to see them evolve over time."

AMP Studios has operated in Simi Valley since 1995, according to Lance Liebelt, AMP marketing agent. It is owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church and produces all of its radio and television shows, he said.

The studio has also been involved with many Hollywood agencies as well, filming portions for such shows as NBC's "The Biggest Loser."