The SLOIFF AFI Scholarship
Last year’s recipient of the SLOIFF’s AFI scholarship is Sage Wells, who hails from a farming community outside of Visalia, CA. She was in attendance, with director Duke Johnston at the premiere of her film “Marrying God” at the 13th Annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.
The 2007 recipient of SLOIFF’s AFI scholarship is Derek Fullagar, who is currently working on his AFI thesis film, “SMOKE” which he plans to submit to the 2008 SLOIFF film competition. Derek was presented with a scholarship certificate at this year’s SLOIFF by director, Norman Jewison.
Read a copy of Derek Fullagar’s thank you letter to the Board of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival:
Dear San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Board of Directors,
Thank you so much for your generous Scholarship in support of my education. This came as a very pleasant holiday surprise to me this year, and I cannot put into words how grateful I am. It is something that I never forget.
I am filled with excitement for the future of my professional career as a cinematographer, and looking forward to all the amazing places that it will take me. This past summer I was sent to Costa Rica for a month as the cinematographer for a television pilot titled 30 DAYS ‘TILL I’M FAMOUS. This was an amazing experience for me, and I had the honor of being the leader of a local camera and lighting crew. It was a great experience to share the love and art of filmmaking with a completely different culture and group of people. The collaboration and communication that took place made this a truly rewarding and unique experience.
As my education at The American Film Institute nears completion, I’ve been looking back and thinking about what an amazing time I’ve had here. My thesis film SMOKE was one of only two films lucky enough to receive the sought after and prestigious Fotokem grant. This grant paid for the majority of our Super 16 film negative development and processing. Principal photography is complete on the film and it is looking really good. The film’s website includes a synopsis and production stills at: www.smokethemovie.com. Our delivery date is set for mid-March, and we are looking forward to submitting it to the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival next year.
I will be forever grateful to the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival for its help with my education. I thoroughly enjoy the charm of San Luis Obispo every time that I visit, and I am looking forward to attending the festival.
Thank you,
Derek Fullagar
AFI Cinematographer
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© 2007 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
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