CLASSNOTES
ALUMNI SNAPSHOT
Tiny Focus, Global Impact
Luke Lorentzen’s ’11 work has taken him on fishing trips with the natives of Santa Cruz del Islote and to film festivals throughout the U.S.
By Mike Kennedy ’99
L
UKE LORENTZEN ’11 began
making short films — many docu-
“This region’s lucrative fishing, which encouraged such overde-
menting his skateboarding exploits
velopment, has dwindled in recent
— when he was a Brunswick Middle
years, and the island’s subsistence
School student.
has become increasingly uncertain,”
As an 8th grader, in fact, his film Can’t Stop won the Jury Prize
Lorentzen writes on his website. “The peaceful way of life can no
at ’Wick’s 3rd Annual Fundance
longer continue with ease, due to
Foreign Film Festival. In the Upper
environmental changes, resource
School, he teamed up with class-
management, and the increasing
mate Michael Marx to spearhead
demands of globalization.”
Brunswick TV. Fast forward to 2015:
Lorentzen’s inspiration to visit
The Stanford University senior is
the island came after meeting a
still making films, and now garnering
Colombian graduate student at
national recognition for his work.
Stanford in the winter of 2012.
Lorentzen’s short documentary
“ I hope my films encourage a sense of empathy and understanding between communities that might not otherwise interact or communicate.”
“My friend Santiago had been
he said. “I hope it causes viewers to think about even just a tiny part of their life in a different and more all-embracing way.” Lorentzen, who is majoring in Film Studies and minoring in American Studies and Art History, admits that Santa Cruz del Islote has reached a bigger audience than he ever expected. The film has earned its fair share of awards as well: Special Jury Mention at the Camden
Santa Cruz del Islote follows the
to Santa Cruz del Islote to paint
experiences of a fisherman and a
houses as part of a service project,”
nine-year-old boy on the three-
Lorentzen said. “He showed me
to travel there and document his
Gate Award at the San Francisco
acre island of Santa Cruz del Islote,
a photograph of the island and
findings.
International Film Festival, and the
located 50 miles off the coast of
encouraged me to go there.”
Cartagena, Colombia. With approx-
With funds raised through
International Film Festival, Cinema Eye Honors Shorts List, the Golden
During the summer of 2013, he lived on the island for two months,
President’s Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
imately 600 inhabitants, the island
Kickstarter, Lorentzen set out on a
immersing himself in the day-to-day
is one of the world’s most densely
mission to learn as much as he could
life of the tight-knit community
feature-length documentary about
populated.
about the island — and ultimately
— spending time on the water along-
the variety of barbershops and hair
side fishermen and with children in
salons throughout New York City.
the town’s schoolhouse. Of course, he always kept his
Up next for Lorentzen is a
“The barbershop is often at the center of the neighborhood,” he
video equipment in tow. The result
said. “You can argue that the haircut
is a documentary that captures a
is the ultimate unifier. Everyone on
different way of life — and one from
earth has to get one.”
which much can be learned. “I hope my films encourage a sense of empathy and under-
Lorentzen plans to complete work on the film this May. To view a trailer of Santa Cruz
standing between communities
del Islote or to read more about
that might not otherwise interact or
Lorentzen’s work, visit his website:
communicate,” Lorentzen said.
www.lukelorentzen.com
“This project attempts to shape a relationship between the audience and the Colombian protagonists,”
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OF BRUNSWICK • WINTER 2015
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