Teen film-maker revels in silent success

A young ‘soon-to-be-film star’ has made it into the top 12 at the New Zealand Youth Silent Film Festival.

Trinity Smith [16] has loved films from a young age. Since the age of seven she has been making home videos with an old camcorder her dad found in storage.

‘‘I used to do home tours, like ‘this is my bed’ and ‘this my family’, but nothing really came of it,’’ she said.

Then she entered the film festival and realised her dream of becoming an actor and director could become reality.

‘‘I used to think maybe Peter Jackson will put a letter in my letterbox to say he needs an actor,’’ she said.

Smith submitted a threeminute silent film called Nowhere Left to Run, that features her brother Calvin [7] and sister Grace [11]. It uses one of the 10 musical scores provided.

The film steps into the imagination of Calvin and has a bit of a James Bond theme.

It is the first time she has submitted her work.

‘‘It is humbling to see people acknowledge me for my work,’’ she said.

‘‘It is a cool dream, but cool to think you can do what you love.’’

She said film making allows her to step into someone elses shoes and produce films that gives the audience something to think about.

‘‘If one person comes away feeling something, then I have done my job,’’ she said.

Smith has accepted a threemonth internship at an independent film company ZSOFI in Auckland next year, which allows her to extend her knowledge and understanding of the business.

Although this could lead to a job opportunity, she wants to have control over what she produces and acts to.

‘‘I love acting but I like to have control,’’ she said.

‘‘The idea is to create the job myself. I need to have control over what I am doing.’’

Smith is continuing to make short films but said she needs help from anyone with ideas and any skills to join her.

‘‘I have the equipment and the skills to help make this happen,’’ she said.

Smith said this could open the door for someone else to get the same opportunity to make films. [Contact trinitysusana@gmail.com if you are interested.]