Local filmmaking student Randall Leong, 21, will represent City College in the third annual 10-10-10 filmmaking competition, as part of the 21st Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The young filmmaker has been selected to represent City College as a student director. Among the other schools sending delegates are UCSB, Brooks Institute, Westmont, Dos Pueblos and San Marcos high schools.
“I’m really nervous,” Leong said, “I’ve learned that it takes a lot of hard work to actually make a movie.”
In the competition, one student is chosen to write a screenplay and is given a theme. Samual McKaig was selected to represent City College as the screenwriter. The theme for this year’s competition was to adapt one of Aesop’s fables. The script, completed early last week, was then given to Leong. Once Leong got the script he had to begin assembling a crew, and then start filming right away.
“It’s going a little slower than I hoped it to be,” Leong said, “But I anticipated problems.”
Leong didn’t want to give away too much of the story, but he did say that it is loosely about an aspiring pingpong player who gets into trouble with a mafia boss in an underground table tennis ring.
There are rules for the competition that Leong must adhere to. For instance, the movie cannot be filmed in black and white, which is exactly how Leong likes to film his movies.
Still, Leong said he’s proud of what he’s done so far.”There’s a cool robbery scene we shot involving a 1967′ Camero, and a James-Dean Porsche,” he said.
Leong’s professors believe he is a talented filmmaker, and shouldn’t have a problem making a good film. “Randall is one of the most wildly creative film students I have ever had the pleasure of having in my class,” said Michael Stinson, film studies assistant professor.
“This competition really helps you answer the question of whether or not this is really something you want to do,” Leong added. Leong plans to transfer to UCSB when he finishes up at the City College. The local filmmaker grew up in the area with his brother and his mother. He attended Bishop Diego High School.
If he wins the competition, Leong said he would be honored and excited his hard work paid off. Randall said he hopes to have all of the filming finished today. His work will be submitted Friday, along with all the other entries, and the winners will be screened on Sunday, wrapping up the 10-10-10 competition.