Film’s winning director shares advice
Top 20 action film “True Heroes” took home the third Louisiana Film Prize on Oct. 12.
“True Heroes” follows a boy who brings to life epic battles and adventure with imagination and friends to escape everyday life until he meets an older gentleman who is a little rusty at it. Director Chris Ganucheau, the cast and crew of the short film have been on their own adventure during their year of planning, writing and filming and winning the $50,000 grand prize.
The Louisiana Film Prize is a short narrative film contest giving filmmakers the rule to shoot a five-to-15-minute short film in its entirety in Shreveport-Bossier City. More than 100 films from across the country were submitted. The Top 20 films were announced in August. The top films were viewed by festival-goers with the winner and Top 5 chosen by a panel of celebrity and film experts accounting for 50 percent of the vote, and the audience determining the other 50 percent.
The Top 5 winners to receive distribution and festival appearances were “A Bird’s Nest,” “Based on Rosenthal,” “Lovable,” “Snip” and “True Heroes.” The Founders’ Circle Winners to receive a $3,000 Filming Grant are “#TheFutureIsCrowdFunded,” “Addam,” “Based on Rosenthal,” “Lovable” and “True Heroes.”
“The Top 20 have never been tougher,” Gregory Kallenberg, founder and director of Louisiana Film Prize, said. “I always have a hard time in at the [film prize] awards ceremony. I wanted there to be a 20-place tie. Every film deserved to take part of the $50,000 grand prize.”
This year, the film prize debuted the new “Best Acting” category with the winning titles of “Best Actress” – The Alyce Award going to Chelsea Bryan of “Angel of Joy” and “Best Actor” – The Bradley Award to James Palmer of “Snip.”
Last year, Ganucheau received the Founders’ Circle award for “El Gato,” a comedic short film about a man, his lady and his cat. Ganucheau said just over the $3,000 received from the previous year’s Founders’ Circle was invested into making “True Heroes.” “True Heroes” is Ganucheau’s sophomore film.
Ganucheau, a resident of New Orleans, works in the film/commercial industry with a side of freelance photography. He attributes his directing success to studying the greats in the film industry and studying film in the classroom.
The crew of “True Heroes” included Ganucheau (director and writer), Meg Dudley (producer), Jake Meaux (writers), David Reece (cinematographer), and Andrew Smith (original score).
“‘True Heroes’ was a deserving film, and from the filmmaking view Ganucheau is a deserving director,” Kallenberg said.
“This is a prime example of how film prize is supposed to work,” he said. “Last year Ganucheau made a film that was unique and special and it was recognized with a Founders’ Circle award. He took the money to create a beautiful piece of art [“True Heroes”] and was awarded for the work to create it.”
With this year’s $50,000 grand prize, Ganucheau said he and his crew will shoot numerous pilot ideas to pitch.
Ganucheau said the most difficult part of the process is receiving the feedback from film peers and the audience. “We trust our team and work to create a product that will deliver while pushing ourselves and pushing envelopes. We want to top whatever is out there.”
Ganucheau gave advice to future filmmakers. “Be four years ahead of what’s already out. Be innovative,” he said. “With every year the bar is held much higher.”
– Tiana Kennell
