Westlake High School Media/Video and Video Club students signed up to be part of this Multi State Contest, the 10 Day Film Challenge. In 2011, it began with three NJ high schools. ​In 2017, “it has grown to 145 high schools and impacting 4,500 student filmmakers from 25 states.”
This challenge requires students to write, produce, shoot, and edit a 4 minute film within 10 days. On Day 1 the Ten Day Film Organization assigns 6 required elements - The Characters name, backstory, line of dialogue, prop and genre. This year the required elements were as follows- name Frank/Fran Crowe the backstory- wore only one color for some reason, the prop - VHS tape, Line of Dialogue. A prop had to be a VHS tape, and the line of dialogue was “I did not even know that was an option.” The genre was drawn out of a hat: Sci-Fi, superhero, mockumentary, fantasy, romance, time travel, fish out of water, high school slice of life, and monster movie.
There were 74 films entered in New York State alone, and only 30 made it to screening. Five films (Dear Fran Crowe, Romance; Time’s Tragedy, Time Travel) were submitted from Westlake and three made it to screening: Induction, Fantasy; Android, Sci Fi; and Sidekick for Hire, Superhero.
Students whose films were selected for the Screening were invited to the UA Kaufman theater in Astoria Queens where all 30 films were screened. Awards included Best Title, Best Use of Prop, Best Use of Line of Dialogue (etc). The film Sidekick for Hire, directed by senior, Thomas Olszewski, written by senior, Nick Rivello, and starring senior, Nick Tobiasen, won Best use of Character and placed fifth overall.
“It was pretty incredible,” states Thomas Olszewski. “We are just 3 guys who made a silly movie about a dopey sidekick and somehow, it’s the fifth best film in New York State. Pretty wild if you ask me.”
Olszewski has been making films all throughout high school and will be attending St. John's University in the fall with a major in film. Check out his Youtube channel, Thomas Olszewski to view more of his films.
“I’ve been making films since I was little and I’m pretty blown away. The reaction to the film has been fantastic. There’s so much talent out there, in New York especially, and to be considered amongst the top is such an honor,” states Olszewski’s film partner, Nick Rivello. Rivello will also be majoring in film at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey with a concentration in screenwriting.
Nick Tobiasen recently played Prince Eric in Westlake’s spring musical, Disney’s The Little Mermaid. His portrayal of Frank Crowe, the silly sidekick that dropped out of med school, granted him the Best use of Character award.
Claudia Abate, Westlake High School’s media arts teacher was incredibly happy with the results of the Ten Day Challenge. “I am extraordinarily proud of all of these students - they dedicated their time and efforts to making films that were creative, engaging and well produced. To the three fine young men who created "Sidekick For Hire" - Nick Rivello, Tommy Olszewski and Nick Tobiasen - they have left their mark on me and Westlake High School's Media Program. Congratulations to all!”
We will find out May 26 if Sidekick For Hire qualifies for Nationals. The first place film automatically qualifies but there’s still room for other films to be entered. You can check out all of Westlake’s films on our WestlakeMediaArts Youtube under Ten Day Film Challenge.