Kids Corner

Columnists

Angad Singh Named Top Student Filmmaker at Hollywood Film Fest

by GURMEET KAUR

 

"Dreams do come true. Even for a young Mexican boy from Fresno, California!"

These were the ovation-winning closing words of animator/director/ producer Phil Roman (The Simpsons, Tom and Jerry - The Movie, Garfield, Peanuts, The Grinch...) whose journey as an animator started the day his mother took him to see Bambi at the age of 11.

"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, we move to the last category of the Student Films: the Best in Educational!

"The nominees are ... "

When the screen came alive with a clip depicting a bunch of Sikh-American faces and voices, a teenager and his mother sitting in the last row of the Chaplin Theater (Hollywood, California) full of celebrities and New Wave filmmakers, froze in anticipation.

The clip terminated with the narration - "I might be considered a normal American teen and then again, maybe not ... And no, I am not a member of the Taliban, or Bin Laden ...", conveying the pointed message of the film's writer, director and protagonist loud and clear.

The 15-year-old's second documentary was one of the nominees selected amongst hundreds of films to be one of the finalists competing with those created by leading film-centric schools, colleges and universities across many countries.

"And the winner is ... "

It was long, pregnant pause.

" ...Roots and Wings, by Angad Singh!"

While that Mexican boy, now nearly 80 years old, was the recipient of the highest honor of the evening - the Friz Award for Lifetime Achievement in Animation - the youngest winning filmmaker at the event also represented a very diverse face of the industry.

The young 15-year-old Sikh-American boy from Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, would receive the Best Educational - Student Category Award, at the 14th annual International Family Film Festival (IFFF).

True to its theme of "Great Stories Bring Families Together," the festival brought together filmmakers and audience from around the globe and celebrated the stories that were family oriented - no useless violence, nudity or obscene language, only great messages.

Even off-the-screen, interesting stories were unfolding all day.

One of them warmed the hearts of the IFFF attendees and made them aware of the reasons the young boy has taken upon himself this task of educating the world through documentary filmmaking.

At a Hollywood bus stop earlier that morning, while waiting for a bus to the Raleigh Studios, the venue of the festival, the young filmmaker (who was wearing the Festival badge) was harassed by a bystander who accused him of being an al-Qaeda trainee.

"They train you young these days! I see you are going to make video footage of the prime locations to be bombed!" yelled the hooligan.

After trying to explain to the person that in fact he was a Peace Worker, the young filmmaker and his mother faced additional confrontations. Fifteen minutes of rude and wild accusations!

But, though the day began with bigotry and hate, it turned into another opportunity for education and a validation of his work; that indeed people needed to open their hearts and learn to love each other and that only one thing - education - can help eradicate the ignorance.

Later that evening at the awards gala, when the audience cheered for the young filmmaker at the event as he made his way to the podium to receive the honour and make his "Thank You" speech, all his struggles, his efforts and his reward, all came together in one day.

When Phil Roman, the legendary animator, patted him on the back, the young boy felt truly inspired.

But when asked of the single most memorable event of that night for him, he tells how his favourite character, Bart Simpson, came to him and cheered him up.

Nancy Cartwright, who is the actress behind the mischievous voice of Bart and other Simpsons characters, spoke to him in Bart's voice, switching back and forth.

While the young Angad makes documentaries to bring about social change, he watches The Simpsons to relax and energize. He could not help but smile, ear to ear.

A quote from Robert F. Kennedy that Angad used in his film came alive that day:

"On this generation of Americans falls the burden of proving to the world that we really mean it when we say all men are created free and are equal ... All of us might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we don't. And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity. "

 

Roots and Wings is Angad's second documentary film that speaks to anybody who faces challenges on account of being "different"- whether visibly or ideologically. It urges the viewer to expand his or her horizons and think beyond stereotypes. For more information on the film and on Angad's journey so far, please visit www.onelight-films.com

The author is Angad's mother, loyal supporter and constant inspiration.

March 16, 2009

Conversation about this article

1: Damanpreet Singh (Amsterdam, Netherlands), March 16, 2009, 5:01 PM.

I saw your documentary a few months back and was moved by your imagination and thought processes at such a young age. I wish you can be the one who can make a huge impact in Hollywood and bring recognition for Sikhs, just as Slumdog Millionaire did it for the poverty problem in India. My best wishes are with you. Rabb Rakha!

2: DeeDee Atlaschi (Roswell, Georgia, U.S.A.), March 16, 2009, 5:17 PM.

I am not a bit surprised. Angad is a fine, humble and inspiring gentleman. His mannerisms and intelligence says it all. I am extremely proud and happy for Angad: he deserves being call the Top Student Filmmaker at Hollywood. He works hard and he deserves all the good things that will come to him. Keep up the outstanding work, Angad. The Atlaschi's are proud of you.

3: Rubin Paul Singh (Washington, D.C., U.S.A.), March 16, 2009, 9:10 PM.

Great news! Congratulations, Angad Singh!

4: Harpal Singh (Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.), March 17, 2009, 1:28 PM.

Wah ji wah!

5: Patwant Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), March 17, 2009, 2:08 PM.

Angad continues to be an inspiration to old and young alike. He is breezing through his teenage years with such focus and purpose. He reminds us that even though our country has come a long way toward equal rights and respectful treatment of one another, we still have a ways to go. How wonderful to know that teenagers like Angad will be the leaders of our future!

6: Arvinder Singh Kang (Oxford, MS, U.S.A.), March 17, 2009, 2:32 PM.

Bravo! You make us all proud!

7: Tejwant (U.S.A.), March 17, 2009, 3:43 PM.

Angad, the world you are able to see and envision through your camera lens cannot be matched or emulated. Your speech through your images cannot be written on a piece of paper. To say congrats would be an insult. I salute you and thank you for sharing with us what you see that we are blind to. And Gurmeet,you are one blessed Mum.

8: Amarjit S. Duggal (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), March 17, 2009, 5:59 PM.

Great son of a great mom. Congratulations.

9: Gulbarg Singh Basi (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), March 17, 2009, 9:25 PM.

Angad ji, you make the whole community proud. May Waheguru be with you all the way.

10: Mejindarpal Kaur (London, United Kingdom), March 17, 2009, 10:52 PM.

Angad, I no longer have to wonder who will make an epic called 'The Last Warriors' - when only 40 Sikhs remained ...

11: Khushveen Kaur (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada), March 18, 2009, 2:17 AM.

I am 22 yrs old and I've seen both movies by Angad Singh. I feel that at least a 15-yr old kid is making a difference! I am so proud of Angad Singh! Amazing kid!

12: Teri Sharan (Australia), March 18, 2009, 7:46 AM.

You are a star, Angad! May God take you all the way to realizing your very noble dreams. It's very refreshing! Well done! God Bless!

13: Roma Kaur (Toronto, Canada), March 18, 2009, 10:26 AM.

Very well done indeed. Kudos go to your mom, who has shown you this path. Meanwhile, I am waiting to see you in a beautiful turban now, as you grow taller and handsome!

14: Amardeep (U.S.A.), March 22, 2009, 3:20 PM.

Great example to learn from. Each one of us needs to let our activist shine within us. Within our community also, instead of pointing out negatives, we need to be the agent of change. The turban is great, as Roma pointed out. I like his way of 'patka' also; I wish more young boys follow this style. May be he needs to teach other young ones this patka style.

15: Ravinder Kaur (Binder) (Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.), March 28, 2009, 12:55 AM.

Merey Angad puttar, Waheguru tainu atte mamma nu hamesha layee charhdi kala vich rakhe. Bahut bahut vadhaaian.

16: Gay Bawa Bhalla Singh-Odmark (Ketchum, Idaho, U.S.A.), April 01, 2009, 12:08 PM.

I met Angad and his mother Gurmeet at the Spiritual Film festival in Sun Valley, Idaho last fall. They are an amazing success story of imagination, courage and honesty, I am proud to know them.

17: Ximena & Jim Rogers (Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S.A.), April 02, 2009, 4:50 PM.

We are so proud of you! Look at how far you've come. Receive all our love ... Jim, Ximena, Hannah & Jimbo

18: Opender Singh (Los Angeles, U.S.A.), April 04, 2009, 10:50 PM.

Congrats, Angad. So happy for you and your mother. Sorry I could not be there to see you get that honour. I am sure you will be a film maker that will make a difference through the medium.

19: Moninder Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), April 13, 2009, 9:51 AM.

Good job and well done, both by mother and son. May Waheguru bless you to do more and continue the journey.

20: Hardeep Singh (Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S.A.), April 20, 2009, 2:43 PM.

Congrats, Angad. Great vision and pioneering work, indeed. Your efforts in "Roots & Wings" will bring visibility to a very relevant issue of discrimination faced by any kid who may look different, because of race, religion or even physical disability. This documentary will help educational institutions and government agencies to develop and organize programs for a better understanding and thus enhancing a sense of empathy amongst our kids and youth. We pray for Chardi kalaa for ever.

Comment on "Angad Singh Named Top Student Filmmaker at Hollywood Film Fest"









To help us distinguish between comments submitted by individuals and those automatically entered by software robots, please complete the following.

Please note: your email address will not be shown on the site, this is for contact and follow-up purposes only. All information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Sikhchic reserves the right to edit or remove content at any time.