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The first Chisago Lakes Film Festival was held on May 20 at the Chisago Lakes Performing Arts Center. The collaboration of the Chisago Lakes High School Student Council, Chisago Lakes Community Education Department and the Chisago Lakes Cable TV provided the opportunity for student-created videos to compete for prizes and also gave the students a public forum to display their talent.

Thirteen entries were received and five short videos and five music videos made the cut. Judges Nathan Laabs, Allison Eikenberry, Josh Scharnberg, and Kevin Erickson critiqued the films on creativity, technical ability, storytelling, visual impact and emotional impact.

Short films included:

FIRST PLACE - Rod, Directed by: Chi-High Buddies, Join the Chi-High Buddies for "just another day off from school."

SECOND PLACE - A Choice, directed by: Ryan Holmquist and Eric Kirchner, "The creepy story of a boy who wakes up in a purgatory-like place and stumbles upon someone who needs help. Will he make the right choice?"

Other short films:

The Making of Leapers, directed by: Bill Straub, "A behind the scenes look at the crumbling of a movie."

The Chase, directed by: C-Crew, "Vanilla Ice and Lil'Wyte bet money on a b-ball game. Lil'Wyte loses but steals the money and the chase is on..."

Hats, directed by: Kevin Jennissen, "Four teenagers are going out for the night but they need some hats first! This movie has no overarching storyline or plot; it's just an entertaining look into the silly, farcical imaginations of four teenage boys."

Music videos included:

FIRST PLACE - "Pawn Shop," directed by: Colin Thieme, "A story of two friends that work together and one gets his car broken into and his car radio is stolen. It ends up at a pawn shop where the other friend buys it with his paycheck."

SECOND PLACE - "Bohemian Rhapsody," directed by Billy Straub and Dylan Nordberg, "A guy on the run from police..."

Other music videos:

"Loser," directed by: Jaci Lien, Laura Pielow and Megan Corrdi, "This is our interpretation of Beck's music video. All three of us are traveling around Lindstrom doing random things...."

"I Want You Back," directed by: Chi-High Buddies, "Fun, frolic, and frivolity! This music video is based on the original by N'SYNC.

"Ode to Me," directed by: George Pelto, Ryan Holmquist and Tyler Berg, "The tale of one man's decent into madness..."

Prizes were donated by Chisago Lakes Cable TV and selected films were aired June 11 on Chisago Lakes Cable Channel 10.

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