Alpharetta 8th-grader Wins Award for Movie

publication date: Apr 21, 2008

 | 

author/source: Kate Copsey / STAFF

By Kate Copsey / STAFF

As an eighth grader in Alpharetta, Angad Singh has made quite a name for himself in the world of international relationships and films.

Singh was troubled by international conflict, so last summer he took a course at Duke University on international relations hoping to gain a better understanding of the nuances of different cultures.

He said one of the key factors he learned in the course is that throughout history, “fear of the unknown” has been at the core of international conflict around the globe.

So he did what any middle school student would do. He asked himself, “What can I do to change this and bridge the gap of differences between different cultures?”

The idea of finding out about his neighbors seemed like a good way to start, so he sent out 47 flyers asking his neighbors to be interviewed on camera. His questions included information on each participant’s up-bringing and background, their thoughts on the causes of international conflict and what they believed they could do themselves.

Filming his neighbors was just the start of the project. As Singh now knows, the editing process is much longer than the actual filming. Singh says he spent an average of five hours a day last summer and one to three hours a day during the school week editing the film down to 22 minutes.

Singh sent the film to Facebook where it created a stir among young audiences. Comments on the film were encouraging and showed that Singh had touched a nerve with people. It inspired other teens to do the same thing.

Taking a concept from the movie “Pay it Forward,” Singh said, “If everyone who watched the film made a small effort, and passed it to someone else, it would accumulate to make a real difference in the world.”

After Facebook, the film was sent around the USA and Canada to film festivals, where it was well received. Singh won the junior award in the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (www.nffty.com) and the film was shown last week at the Atlantic Film Festival.

Singh was also invited to be the keynote speaker to California teens who are struggling with racial tensions in their schools and cities.

These achievements are not surprising to neighbors Elaine and Jerry Thilgen, who have watched Singh grow up. Elaine was surprised at the topic though. “It is just so extraordinary at his age to be zeroing in on this subject,” she said.

Jerry Thilgen thinks that it is a great lesson for everyone and said, “Americans have a curiosity about Hindus and Muslims. They have a lack of knowledge and fear mainly stemming from a lack of taking the time to find out.”

Singh’s initiative has taught him that everyone can make a difference.