YOUNG COMPUTER ANIMATOR CONTINUES TO SHINE!
Niskayuna High School student animator selected to be part of international television program.
One of Niskayuna High School’s outstanding student computer animators, Chris Perrella, has had two of his short films selected to be showcased on Season 5 of the Poughkeepsie based program – DROP TV.
DROP TV is a magazine-style series of half hour episodes packed with high energy segments made for youth, by youth. The series is produced in conjunction with the Children’s Media Project’s Media Guild program.
CMP’s youth producers, on all levels of Media Guild, contribute to the creation of DROP TV. During the summer months and after school, Media Guild apprentices, under professional and peer mentorship, engage in all aspects of pre-productions, production, and post- productions for DROP TV: research, writing, scheduling, camera, sound, lighting, acting, graphic design, animation, editing, composition, and sound mixing.
DROP TV highlights short youth-produced videos made by DROP TV producers as well as work from other young videomakers from around the world. DROP TV producers receive hundreds of videos made by youth every year. From these submissions they choose the best short works to share with DROP TV audiences. Some organizations that frequently highlight the show include: Reel Grrls, Perpich Center For Art Education, Bay Area Video Coalition, Say Si, SAF Cakovec, and Camera Etc.
For Season 5, the DROP TV staff chose two of Niskayuna High School computer animator, Chris Perrella’s short films, Didget and the WooNads and Checkers.
Didget and the WooNads tells the story of a robot with a unique vision who struggles in an environment that demands conformity. This short 3-D animated film has been showcased in numerous film festivals throughout the country including: The Capital Region Media Arts Festival 2008 (Best Animation – Computer Based), Reel Teens USA Film Festival (Official Selection), Rod Serling Video Festival 2007 (Best Animation), Woodstock International Film Festival 2008 (Official Selection), and the Electric City Film Festival 2008 (Finalist).
Mr. Perrella’s other film, Checkers, tells the story of Earth checker champion, Johnny Fischer who is challenged to an out of this world match with some unexpected results. This film has received accolades and awards in the Ballston Spa Film Festival 2009 (Best High School Film), Rod Serling Video Festival 2008 (Best Animation), Reel Teens USA Film Festival 2008 (Best Computer Animation), Fulton Montgomery Community College High School Regional (Best Digital Media).
Chris plans on attending Savannah College of Art and Design in the Fall to pursue his education in the field of Interactive design and game development.
DROP TV can be seen locally on Schenectady Public Access TV-16: Saturdays at 8:00am.
For more information on DROP TV and the work of Chris Perrella check out the following websites: