West Essex High School Hosts Successful Film Festival

It was an evening to celebrate student filmmakers.

"Sopranos" creator David Chase, a 1963 West Essex graduate, and Fairfield filmmaker Randy Rossilli spoke to students about their work and the top student film submissions were screened and prizes awards at the first West Essex High School Film Festival on May 2.

Film Festival founder Greg Contaldi, who is also student council president, and Mr. Rossilli ran a question and answer session with Mr. Chase and read questions submitted for Mr. Chase from film festival participants. Greg Contaldi also served as host for the event.

Randolph High School Mass Media Teacher Robert Finning asked Mr. Chase what advice he had for high school film students who want to continue with a career in the film industry.

"People will tell you that your vision is wrong," Mr. Chase warned the students.
In Mr. Rossilli's remarks, the former teacher told students how teachers must perform. "Every day as a teacher, you put on six shows a day. I loved it."

Mr. Rossilli worked as a teacher and then a principal before making the move to film. He owns a television and music recording facility in Fairfield. Mr. Rossilli has written, director and produced four Emmy-nominated broadcast television specials, a PBS pilot, an award-winning documentary, seven DVD titles and various musical composition. In 2008, he won the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for Outstanding Children/Youth/Teen Program or Special.

The West Essex High School Film Festival brought together high school filmmakers from different high schools who shared their work and socialized over popcorn during intermission.

The festival showcased a variety of films including the West Essex documentary "Smile" featuring students with pieces of paper with smiles on them held in front of their faces and several dramas and comedies. "Smile" won best documentary and the audience choice award. Ellie Zarr's documentary "Generation Stress'' looked at student stress as they prepare for the college application process.

The festival also featured the premiere of "Life on Pause," a film by West Essex High School student Allie Hale and her experience after she was diagnosed with cancer. Her documentary was too long to be entered in the festival, since the films were limited to under 10 minutes.

The audience laughed at Anderson Wang's "Real Fun," which featured Anderson pretending to be an exchange student in a comic farce. The audience laughed at "Spalding," a short comedy film about a teenager and his basketball, made by a trio of Randolph High School students, which won honorable mention.

Jack Belisle of Mamaroneck High School in New York impressed the judges with his drama "Friends," a suspenseful thriller about a girl who accepted a Facebook friend request from someone she did not really know. The film took home the first place award for drama and the best overall film award.

Natalie LaSpisa received honorable mention for her drama "Bystander," which also dealt with peer pressure and cyber bullying.

2014 West Essex Film Festival Winners:
Best Documentary: "Smile" Liz Martine, Jovanna Bartelloni
Honorable Mention: "Generation Stress" Ellie Zarr Best Comedy: "Real Fun" Anderson Wang Honorable Mention: "Spalding" Jordan Dalmedo, Raj Chidambaram, Spencer Kaminsky (Randolph High School)

Best Drama: "Friends" Jack Belisle (Mamaronack High School, NY)

Audience Choice Award: "Smile" Liz Martine, Jovanna Bartelloni