Monterey County Film Commission 2015 Student Scholarship Winner

Chelsea Amarillas, a student at California State University, Monterey Bay, was named the winner of a $2,000 scholarship in the 2015 Monterey County Film Commission’s Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship & Awards Program. She is a Marina resident and a senior in the Cinematic Arts and Technology Department.

Amarillas will use the award to help cover costs for her final thesis capstone film, “A Father’s Love.” She describes the story as a dark and enchanting tale that illustrates the importance of family. Filming will be begin in the fall, and she has begun looking for locations in Monterey County, including a Victorian-style house. “The stylization of the film is modern but with Victorian elements, and this award will allow me to achieve the level of quality production design that I had hoped to,” Amarillas said.

“Receiving this scholarship is an honor because I was selected from a group of talented peers, and it is encouraging as a young filmmaker to be recognized and rewarded for the craft that I am just beginning,” Amarillas said. “The award will be of great assistance financially in the production of a film that is near to my heart and one that I am very excited to see come to life.”

Originally from Modesto, CA, Amarillas has worked on several other productions with her fellow CSUMB film students.

Contributions to the film commission’s Director Emeritus Richard Tyler Film Student Scholarship & Awards Program were made by Union Bank, the Craig and Paula Tigerman family, in-kind support from the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation’s Charity Match program, and numerous local donors.

Contributions are welcomed for next year’s program, according to Jeff Clark, film student scholarship chairperson and the board president of the Monterey County Film Commission. For more information call 831-646-0910 or email info@filmmonterey.org.

2015 Scholarship Winner – Press Release