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Film fest rolls out red carpet in Sisters
By Shawn Strannigan

Amanda Kessel, left, and Laura Leis accept the award for Best Film for their film, "Killer Wail" at the Second Annual Outlaw Film Festival.

Movie fans arrived at Sisters High School last Saturday night to find the place transformed.

A red carpet, bordered by multicolored lights, was rolled out along the sidewalk. Inside the foyer, tickets to the Second Annual Outlaw Film Festival could be purchased at a box office, created and assembled by SHS students.

"There's a lot more to it this year," said the event's creator, senior Paul Head.

According to Head, the film festival is a celebration of student films throughout Central Oregon.

"Our goal is to raise awareness about filmmaking as an art, an expression, and as a vocation," he said. "This event is in recognition of the contribution of the young filmmaker."

Head, who emceed the film fest, kicked off the evening with a film he'd made with fellow student Chris Mintiens.

Special effects in the movie were made possible by the use of a giant camera crane, on loan from Strada Unlimited.

Leadership teacher Michelle Herron made the first presentation of the evening.

The category was "Best Documentary," and the award went to "Tasting Good and Evil -- Life on the Streets."

The moving documentary, featuring street people from Bend, was filmed and edited by Lissa Jensen and Tara Redfield.

Their film also received recognition for Best Film Editing.

"I liked doing the film," said Jensen. "The people on the street were happy to talk to us. The guy with the guitar wanted to come tonight."

The pyramid-shaped trophies awarded throughout the evening were designed and created by the SHS art class and Bethany Benhower.

The award presentations were interspersed with entertainment from the Jazz Choir, the Jazz Band, students from the Americana Project, and the SHS Dance Ensemble.

A local band, Golden Public, performed during intermission.

The award for Best Screenplay, presented by Jim Cornelius, went to Laura Leis and Amanda Kessel for their film, "Killer Wail."

"There is hope for everyone," Leis quipped, upon receiving the award. "The day we made this movie, I was reading the instructions on how to work my camera!"

A new category Head added this year was the Peoples' Choice award. Earlier in the day, the public had been invited to preview all the films in their entirety.

There were ballots available for the afternoon movie-goers to vote for their favorite movie.

"The Pest" received the popular vote.

Caroline Howe, a reporter for Z21 News, presented the award for Best Cinematography to "Bloodsuckers of the Underground."

"This is the most welcoming high school community I've ever worked with," Howe said.

The Best Visual Effects award was presented by Michael Gough, who has earned an Emmy for his film, "X Games."

"Mortal Wombat," produced by Casey Pyke, took that honor.

Laurie Rice, film critic for The Source, announced that Andy Ritchie won the Best Actor Award.

"I'll hope I'll be reviewing films you all have created ten years from now," Rice said.

Freshman Casey Pyke received the award for Best Director.

"This is great," he said. "I want to do films as a career."

The evening ended with "Killer Wail" being proclaimed the Best Film.

Leis and Kessel (who also won Best Actress) received their award, then the audience had the opportunity to watch the winning flick.

Head had tried to procure Dean Cain, who portrayed Superman, to come to this year's event, but Cain was unable to fit it into his schedule.

According to Herron, Cain expressed the desire to be part of next year's film fest. Andy Rooney and Helen Hunt have also shown some interest.

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