Village Gamer

Gayatri Bajpai, Iuliana Constantinescu and Heather Trawick were announced today as the winners of the 2012 Daryl Duke & William Vince Scholarships, which were created to honour the significant contributions of Mr. Duke and Mr. Vince to the film and television industry by assisting in the advanced education of exceptional BC filmmakers.

Eligible disciplines included writing, directing, producing, cinematography, art direction, picture editing, sound design, visual effects and interactive media.  Applications were adjudicated by a jury of active BC film, television and digital media industry professionals.  Each recipient will receive $10,000 towards their educational expenses for the 2012/2013 year.

Gayatri Bajpai will use the scholarship to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Directing and Production at the University of California, LA.  “Thank you, BC Film Foundation, for awarding me a Daryl Duke & William Vince Scholarship, which throws opens doors for me as a young Canadian filmmaker,” says Bajpai. “I am excited about honing my storytelling skills while pursuing my MFA in Directing at UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television. I look forward to finding my niche as a writer/director and seeking out opportunities to repay the kindness here in my community.”

Iuliana Constantinescu will use the scholarship to continue her studies with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Film Production at the University of British Columbia. “I’m deeply grateful to the BC Film Foundation for the unique chance to explore, expand and express my creative personality,” says Constantinescu. “Being granted one of these prestigious scholarships is for me both a great honour and an assumed responsibility. Through it, my commitment to filmmaking is reinforced, and the legacy of Daryl Duke and William Vice is carried on. Thank you.”

Heather Trawick will use the scholarship to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Video from the California Institute of the Arts.  “I am honoured and elated to be a recipient of the Daryl Duke and William Vince Scholarships,” says Trawick. “This award will aid me in attending the California Institute of the Arts MFA Film/Video program, where I will develop and expand on my skills as a celluloid based filmmaker. As the program promotes a cross-pollination of genres and practices, I intend to bring in aspects of documentary, fictional and art-based cinema into my practice.”

As a director and producer, Daryl Duke’s Emmy Award winning career included successes in feature film, television drama, documentary and television specials. In a professional life that spanned more than half a century, Daryl worked with all of the major North American television networks and for most of the studios in Hollywood.

Daryl began his career as an editor, writer and director at the NFB and a director and producer at the CBC. He is best known for having directed “The Thorn Birds”, the 10 hour mini-series from the best selling book, “Tai-Pan” and “I Heard the Owl Call My Name”. In the mid-1970’s, Daryl founded the independent television station CKVU in Vancouver. He was the station’s first President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, leading it to be the highest rated station in its market.

In a short but prolific career, William Vince produced over 30 feature films including “The Snow Walker”, “Saved!”, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” and the 2006 Academy Award best picture nominee “Capote”. During this time, William established a reputation as a producer with wide-ranging technical knowledge and experience in all aspects of international feature film production, from complicated financing scenarios through post-production and distribution.

William was a champion of emerging filmmakers, giving many people their start in the Vancouver industry. His legacy can be found in the careers of hundreds of film industry veterans who either got their first job with him, or were given the chance to move up the ladder on one of his productions.

“Gayatri, Iuliana and Heather all show remarkable talent and promise,” says Michael Francis, British Columbia Film Foundation President. “I am delighted that we can celebrate the lives and careers of Daryl and William by supporting their education and future endeavors.”