A Gainesville- based student film production company recently took home two awards at the Atlanta High School Film Festival.
Local filmmaker Wyatt Goad and his team was awarded “Best Film in Georgia” and was chosen to receive an Audience Choice Award for their documentary “Dance of the Dirtbags”, which follows a North Georgia rock climber and his journey with the sport as he connects with nature and God.
“The idea of the film came after I was watching the award ceremony for the All American High School Film Festival, and a film a buddy and I made got into the festival, but we didn't win anything,” Goad recalled to AccessWDUN. “And, I didn't realize there was a documentary section. So for some reason, the first thought for a documentary was to make one on my buddy, Jonathan Ryan… it was just kind of an instant, like,’ oh, rock climbing, it just makes sense.’ I also rock climb, so it was like it was a world I was familiar with, but not to the extent of familiarity after the fact.”
Goad Co-Directed the short film with Bryson Little. The project was Co-Produced with Molefe Sijiye, whom he founded with Basement Table Studios, the YouTube channel that houses several of their shared projects.
“We've probably made eight or nine projects together, just the past two years,” Goad said. “And we’re working on more, always.”
Additionally, a shorter cut of “Dance of the Dirtbags” was awarded “Best Sports Highlight Reel '' at SkillsUSA Georgia.
Goad explained the original concept for the project was to make a five episode series following individuals categorized as “dirtbags,” which refers to those that commit to a lifestyle that allows them to connect with nature in some capacity. However, as the project developed, the current “Dance of the Dirtbags” episode will become an installation of a larger story he aims to tell.
“I've been praying about it,” Goad said. “And I kind of decided that I want to do a feature length film [that will] follow three ‘dirtbags’...it'll follow a rock climber, a surfer and environmentalist… three separate stories, intertwining of like the love for the outdoors, rebuilding the environment, but also connecting back to the roots of how God is changing their life.”
Goad also shared with AccessWDUN what about the project sticks out most to him.
“My favorite part about it is that it started out as ‘I want to win an award, I want to win the festival,’” he said. “... but as we were shooting it, and as we were showing people, rough cuts, and, you know, entering contests and getting feedback, the thing we got back the most was ‘we loved how God was interwoven into it.’ … I just want to introduce God to people.”
You can view the documentary and other projects by Basement Table Studios here.
