A last-minute entry in the Renton FilmFrenzy IV, "The Disconnect," captured top awards, including Best Picture, at the 2011 Curvee Awards Gala Tuesday night.

Its screenwriter, Mitch Shepherd of Renton, won The FilmSchool Outstanding Screenwriter Award. And lead actor, John Wu of Bellevue, who went to Kentridge High School with Shepherd, won the Best Actor Curvee.

In accepting the screenwriter award, Shepherd said filmmaking is about "telling a good story." He already had an idea for his film when he approached FilmFrenzy organizers late in registration period, figuring he would apply instead for next year's Frenzy.

But the day before shooting began, he jumped in with his friend Wu to tell a good story about a man (Wu) headed for his wedding who's looking for some marriage advice. His calls a wrong number and ends up getting that advice from a stranger, only seen from behind playing a video game. The stranger is played by Shepherd.

The first FilmFrenzy Screening award, voted on by those who attended Monday night's screening of all 17 films, went to "Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. "

"Thanks for laughing at the right parts," said Steven Heller in accepting the award.

THE CURVEE AWARDS

Student Division

First place: "Shakespeare in the Parking Lot," Meg Singley

Second place: "H.D.F.D.," Queenelle Gazmen

Third place: "Raymond's Film," Ray Austill

 

Open Division

First place: "The Bathroom Effect," Kevin Schilling

Second place: "The First Day of My Life," Carlos Camargo

Third place: "Framed in Time," Chris Iley

 

Special Judges Award

Aiko Luckasavage, Cooper Hanisco, Jake Gabrielson and Ray Austill

 

Best Use of Renton

"Armed Comrodery," Tyler Brown

 

FilmFrenzy Screening Award

"Shakespeare in the Parking Lot"

 

Outstanding Woman in Film

Queenelle Gazmen, "H.D.F.P."

 

TheFilmSchool Outstanding Screenwriter

Mitch Shepherd, "The Disconnect"

 

Best Actor

John Wu, "The Disconnect"

 

Best Picture

"The Disconnect," Mitch Shepherd

Contact Renton Reporter Editor Dean Radford at editor@rentonreporter.com or 1-425-255-3484 (ext 5050).

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