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And the winners are: The 2018 Eclipse Awards

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The 2018 Eclipse Award winners

By Lindsay Papciak

WKTV Community Writer

 

In Oscar-fashion, nominees and guests arrived in ballgowns, suits, and bowties as they were escorted to their tables for the 2018 Eclipse Awards which took place Thursday, May 3, in the Ballroom at Mckay Tower in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

The Eclipse Awards has aimed to celebrate achievements in the growing film industry across Michigan for the past seven years. Filmmakers submitted their work to a board of past Eclipse Award winners in order to narrow down to more than 100 nominees across 21 categories. Past winners then casted their votes, and winners were announced at last nights event.

 

Guests mixed and mingled at the 7th Annual Eclipse Awards.

Sara Hogan along with Eric Schrotenboer won for Promotional Segment in Television or Online. “[The Eclipse Awards] are a wonderful celebration of what’s happening in Michigan,” Hogan said.

 

“Small films with good stories, they do impact people,” said first-time filmmaker Bryce Cameron. His film Kid Brother won this year for Narrative Feature and Screenplay Feature Length. “This was the little movie that could. It had such humble beginnings, it’s hard to believe that we’re here.”

 

Peter Harold, winner for Acting in a Supporting Role, felt the moment was very surreal. “Anybody who is foolish enough to make film in Michigan doesn’t necessarily do it for the accolades,” Harold said. “For an event like this to be put on that’s so immaculately curated and so much care is clearly put into it means a lot. It’s very humbling and I am honored.”

 

Roy Wallace was the winner of Sound Editing for his film Frankie. He said his win also came as a surprise. “I’ve been doing this for a long time so just getting the validation from my peers has been great.”

 

Mark Adler received the 2018 Hyperion Award.

To continue with validation from the Michigan film industry, for the past four years, the Hyperion Award was presented to an individual within the Michigan film industry that has continually made strides to maintain high standards in their craft while inspiring others to do so as well.

 

The 2018 Hyperion Award was presented to Michigan Production Alliance founder and director, and author of “Production Algebra: A Handbook for Production Assistants” Mark Adler. Adler has been working in the industry since 2003. During this time, he has contributed to the growth and professional status of the state work force by improving performance standards as well as by providing an access path for working in the industry.

 

“I had no idea that I was in consideration for [the Hyperion Award] so it came to me as quite a surprise,” Adler said. “I’ve just been keeping on because it’s important and I guess people recognized that.”

With honoring both veterans of the awards along with newcomers, Bryce Cameron says its never to late to start in the industry. “You never know creatively when you’ll turn a corner and find something worth showing to the world and being proud of.”

 

Congratulations to all of the 2018 Eclipse Award winners!

 

Sound Design
Roy Wallace — Frankie

 

Direction in a Narrative Short
Scott Magie — Four-Ninety

 

Cinematography in a Narrative Feature
Matthew Von Dayton — Thaw of the Dead

 

Acting in a Supporting Role
Peter Herold — Kid Brother

 

Television and Online Programming
Verify — Eric Schrotenboer, David Bailey, Emma Nicolas, producers

 

Screenplay Feature Length
Bryce Cameron, Devin Cameron — Kid Brother

 

Cinematography in Documentary
Angela Peavey — Stories of Us

 

Original Score
Gregory De Iulio — The House on Oak Street

 

Documentary Short
Everything Happens Somewhere-Joppa — Eric Schrotenboer, producer

 

Editing in a Narrative
David Marek — Thaw of the Dead

 

Cinematography in a Narrative Short
Dane Covey — Small Town

 

Animation
Josh Reed – DoseDr

 

Narrative Short
Four-Ninety — Scott Magie, producer

 

Documentary Feature
Co-Operatively Yours — Kristin Ojaniemi, Jim Kurtti, producers

 

Promotional Segment in Television or Online
Benjamin’s Hope – Welcome Home — Eric Schrotenboer, Sara Hogan, producers

 

Cinema Trailer
Death Island Paranormal retribution — Chris Penney, producer

 

Screenplay Short Subject
Justin Muschong – Deadbolt

 

Direction in a Narrative Feature
Jude S. Walko — The Incantation

 

Acting in a Lead Role
Elizabeth Moore – Deadbolt

 

Music Video
Small Town — Zachary Clark, Nick Turske, Andy Westra, producer

 

Narrative Feature
Kid Brother — Bryce Cameron, producer

 

The 2018 Hyperion Award
Mark Adler

And the winner is: 2016 Eclipse Awards

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The Eclipse Award winners take one final photo together after Thursday's gala.
The Eclipse Award winners take one final photo together after Thursday’s gala. Center, in a blue shirt, is Hyperion Award recipient David Lowing.

It was a night of glam and posh as nominees for the 2016 Eclipse Awards entered the ballroom of Grand Rapids’ City Flats Hotel on Thursday, April 28.

 

The annual awards are designed to celebrate West Michigan filmmakers and the films they create. A call for entries was made at the end of 2015 with judges from around the globe narrowing the record number of entries down to nominees. Past Eclipse winners were selected to place their votes for winners in each category with those winners being announced last night.

 

It was a packed house as more than 200 people came to recognize friends, colleagues, and newcomers of the West Michigan film industry, and it was a newcomer whose film garnered the most awards.

 

Producer DJ Viernes’s film “shehimher,” a seven-minute piece about the blooming relationship between two woman – one who has a son -made his mark on the judges and the West Michigan film community.

 

Heather Baker-Jason, John Hanson, DJ Viernes, and Jodi Morton from the film "shehimher."
Heather Baker-Jason, John Hanson, DJ Viernes, and Jodi Morton from the film “shehimher.”

“Wow, you know who I am,” Viernes said from the stage as he accepted The Eclipse Award for Best Director. After the event, Viernes said he has mostly been working independently with this being his first time entering The Eclipse Awards.

 

“John [Hanson] was the one who said ‘hey, there is this local films awards’ and maybe we should enter,” Viernes said. “We had previewed the film at UICA’s Open Projector Night and won that.”

 

Set all to music, with no dialog, “sheherhim” not only garnered Best Director for Viernes but also Best Original Score for Theo Ndawillie II and Best Narrative Short with Viernes saying, “I dedicate this film to the LGBT community and to those who want to start families.”

 

Other big winners were Kyle Misak whose film “The Million Dollar Nickel” bought home two awards Best Editing and Best Writing in Produced Content; and Brett Deacon and Evan Hollingsworth won for Best Animation and Best Cinema Trailer.

 

Alex Bolen and Sophie Bolen. Alex was the presenter for Best Actor which went to his sister, Sophie.
Alex Bolen and Sophie Bolen. Alex was the presenter for Best Actor which went to his sister, Sophie.

The “awww” moment came when Alex Bolen, who won for Best Cinematography and Videography last year, announced this year’s Best Actor winner, his sister Sophie Bolen for “Rodeo Girl.” At 16, Bolen is the youngest to receive an Eclipse Award.

 

“I was really super surprised,” Alex Bolen said after the event. “I do not think they even knew she was my sister when they asked me to present for that category.”

 

A special tribute was given to Chuck Peterson who had been the station manager at GRTV and was a freelancer within the film community. Peterson, who was known for his passion for free speech, lost his battle to cancer last June. Local band Soil & Sun performed while images of Peterson appeared on the screen.

 

This year’s Hyperion Award for Outstanding Leadership in Film, Television, and Production Community recipient was David Lowing, owner of Lowing Light & Grip. Lowing has been involved in the local film industry for about 30 years serving as a leader and mentor to filmmakers and content creators across a wide range of disciplines and formats. He said he was surprised when he first learned he would be receiving the award, which recognizes the contributions of an individual in the  West Michigan film industry, and was honored to have been chosen.

 

Here is a complete rundown of the winners:

 

Best Writing in Produced Content
Kyle Misak and Jesse Charles – “The Million Dollar Nickel”

 

Best Cinematographer
Steve Steketee – “Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park: A Grand Rapids Treasure”

 

Best Editor
Kyle Misak – “The Million Dollar Nickel”

 

Best Original Score
Theo Ndawillie II – “shehimher”

 

Best Narrative Short
DJ Viernes – “shehimher”

 

Best in Local and Regional Segments and Promotional Pieces
Mallory Patterson and Randy Strobl – “Meet Maren”

 

Best in Online Programs, Segments and Promotional Pieces
Brian Gotberg and Harper Philbin  – “Lucky Jay”

 

Best Director
DJ Viernes – “shehimher”

 

Best Documentary
Josh Reed – “My Personal Pink Time”

 

Best Animation
Brett Deacon and Evan Hollingsworth – “Project Liberation”

 

Best Cinema Trailer
Brett Deacon and Evan Hollingsworth – “Project Liberation”

 

Best in Local TV and Cable
Noah DeSmit – “Cooking with Angus: Mozzarella”

 

Best Actor
Sophie Bolen – “Rodeo Girl”

 

Best Music Video of an Original Performance
Tyler Wiewiora – Brian’s Song

 

Sponsors of the event included WKTV Digital Media, Ferris State University’s TV & Digital Production, West Michigan Film Office, West Michigan Film Alliance, Compass College of Cinematic Arts, and Grand Valley State University’s Film and Video Production. The Eclipse Awards Film Festival featuring films from this year’s event will air later this year in the fall. For more information, visit www.theeclipseaward.com.