ACTING & FILM SCHOOL

High School Student Finds Himself In Filmmaking

By Katie Curley, The Daily News of Newburyport - The world’s next Steven Spielberg could be a Newbury native. He can already write, shoot, edit and produce short videos and is garnering the attention of YouTube viewers across the world.

Michael Chiaravalloti, a senior at Triton Regional High School, has recently been awarded the “Media Production Award” at Triton and will go on to the New York Film Academy Film School in Manhattan in the fall.

“When I got to high school, the first year I didn’t know what I was going to do,” Chiaravalloti said. “But when I found video, I found myself, and it has altered my life’s course. I feel lucky for that.”

His sophomore year of high school is when Chiaravalloti says he found himself.

“I got a little camera for my birthday and made 20-second Lego videos,” he said. “Then I made a video for Spanish class about my life and then had the chance to sign up for Media Production class.”

In his junior year, during the first week of class, Chiaravalloti wrote, shot, edited and produced his first video, and from there it was history.

“I love all of the process. I get so excited when I have an idea to get out and shoot it, then to come home and edit it and see it come together,” Chiaravalloti said. “I get this natural high inside watching it come together.”

So far, Chiaravalloti’s YouTube videos have more than 30,728 views.

His most popular video short titled, “Lego Star Wars” was made using Lego characters. He used Photoshop to edit explosions and laser gun fire. Lego Star Wars has been viewed nearly 20,000 times.

“What happens is people see that and then link to my other videos,” Chiaravalloti said. “I have almost 40 subscribers, so they get e-mails every time I upload a new video.”

Chiaravalloti says Web sites such a YouTube and Facebook have provided a venue for young movie makers to showcase their work.

“It’s free, and it gets you out there,” Chiaravalloti said. “YouTube is a great indicator because you can see how much people like your video. There are ratings, and you get that feedback.”

Over 100 ratings indicate YouTube viewers like Chiaravalloti’s work already, with the number growing by the day.

In addition to the videos he has created for class assignments, Chiaravalloti spends much of his free time brainstorming ideas or shooting new shorts.

Many of his works have been featured on the weekly show “VTV,” Triton’s close-circuit show Chiaravalloti is an anchor for.

“A good amount of my own creations were on the show,” he said.

His videos have also appeared in two 100-hour film festivals and one 24-hour film festival, in which he had only a specific amount of time to come up with a original work…full article.

We are looking forward to having you join us at the New York Film Academy in New York City Michael. Until then, keep creating!