Doodles Inspire Award-Winning Animation

For a second year in a row a Justin-Siena student takes the grand prize at the Napa Valley Family Film Festival.
The Napa Valley Family Film Festival takes place once a year on Memorial Day weekend. Workshops and family films are offered for three days at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena. The crowning event is a screening of student-made films in three categories: elementary, middle school, and high school. Participants are 8-18.

At the Red Carpet Ceremony they award four prizes, best in each of the grade levels and a Grand Prize winner. Last year Cassidy Schoonmaker ’16 was the Grand Prize winner from Justin-Siena. This year the Grand Prize went to Megan Steiger ’17 and Mac Armstrong-Brown ’17 for their animated feature, “Deliverance of the Mind.” Both students are part of Justin-Siena’s Film Studies program. Mac and Megan received their award (a DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter Drone) at the Red Carpet screening Sunday, May 29 at the Cameo Cinema.

According to film studies instructor Mr. Louis Pierotti ’72, the evolution of this story is a fun one. “Last semester Megan turned in a notebook for my class that consisted of more illustrations than words. I admired the quality of the doodlings but encouraged her to try and write more words in her notes. When the second semester rolled around I showed the students three short animated films as part of the curriculum for the class. I pulled Meg aside and told her that she should try to make an animated film for her Spring Film Project. She was understandably reluctant, because of the labor intensity of such a project, but she told me that she would consider it. When she and Mac turned in their screenplay for the Spring Production it was a massive undertaking that would have required a Hollywood budget. When I asked Mac how they were going to pull off such an ambitious undertaking he simply said, ‘you'll see.’ Next thing I knew Megan submitted a fully animated film for the course requirement that turned out to be thoroughly amazing!”

Other noteworthy entries included Marie Conemac ’17 and Morgan Snow's ’17 “Moving Picture,” as well as a couple of films from the talented Grace Haymond ’17 entitled “Got Milk” and “Memories.” Mr. Pierotti said, “We are exceedingly proud of our students' efforts and the outstanding showing they are making in such well known local showcases and venues. With increased success and notoriety we hope to expand our curriculum to include a film production class in the not-too-distant future.

Megan and Mac's film will be screened again as the Student Film Grand Prize winner of 2016 at the Napa Valley Film Festival in the fall.

Congratulations to our young filmmakers and all the remarkable artists who represented our Visual and Performing Arts Department so admirably.

“Deliverance of the Mind,” by Megan Steiger can be viewed on Vimeo:
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Justin-Siena High School

4026 Maher Street
Napa, CA, 94558
United States
T: 707.255.0950 
F: 707.255.0334
Justin-Siena is a Lasallian Catholic college preparatory community that serves young people in grades 9–12.