Morgan Hill’s Poppy Jasper Film Festival has awarded its 2006 scholarship to Alyssa Nelson, a graduating senior at Live Oak High School. An exceptional student, Alyssa’s studies have included audio/video and digital photography courses. A portion of her scholarship application included manipulated digital still photographs as well as two digital video projects. Her ambition is to combine music with visual images to enhance the emotional impact of both. She is working on her submission for this year’s Poppy Jasper Film Festival.
Alyssa has proven herself a diversified student. In addition to her digital technical proficiency, she is an active member of the Morgan Hill chapter of the Future Farmers of America, serving as chapter secretary. She is also a popular swim instructor and lifeguard at the Morgan Hill Aquatic Center. Her immediate plans are to attend Cabrillo College to complete her core academic work and then transfer to a specialized program such as the Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville.
The Poppy Jasper Film Festival, scheduled for Nov. 10-12, is in its third year as Morgan Hill’s showcase for short films. It differs from other festivals by focusing on both sides of the camera and caters to the creators as well as the viewers. A favorite with participating filmmakers, it supports and encourages interaction with festival attendees and provides a way for the audience to go beyond the theater seat to learn about the technical and creative processes behind the lens. For more information on this year’s festival, go to http://www.poppyjasperfilmfest.org.
