Page 24 - Tropic Magazine Issue 27

TROPIC • EDUCATION

Bright futures

TEEN TALENT
Jasmine Bryan is shining
among her peers, including 3
those well beyond her age.

Words: Brooke Cooper

The student-turned-filmmaker not only 1. Understory Film Festival Awards 2020
took home the Best High School Student 2. A frame from Daydreamer’s Pursuit
Film award, but Best Film award among 2 3. Jasmine Bryan
all candidates at this year’s Understory whim, not expecting to come out above the track narrating it – No Woman
Film Festival. career filmmakers. by Whitney.
The fresh graduate from Trinity Bay She told Tropic how her high school To cover the cost of licencing the track,
State High School won the top titles education fostered her love for she received a Regional Arts Development
with Daydreamer’s Pursuit, a short film filmmaking. Fund grant from Cairns Regional Council
following the story of Nutmeg who, along “At first I didn’t go to a school that offered and the Queensland Government.
with her Walkman and a few sentimental film, but in English we learnt about shot “Through school I’ve produced a few
belongings, escapes a mundane reality to types and I found it so intriguing that shorts, but I never felt like I was able to
chase her daydreams. I went home and memorised all of them,” tell a true and honest story. With the
After almost a year of hard work, she said. grant fund I was able to do anything I
Jasmine, who recently turned 18, entered “Then I moved schools and took an wanted,” Jasmine said.
her passion project into the festival on a
elective in film, and it was instantly “It’s got a lot of attention online, with
my passion. people saying the landscapes resemble
“At first my teacher didn’t believe that my Europe. When it says “made in Far North
films were my own work – he thought I Queensland” it blows people’s minds!”
was getting someone else to film them – It looks like Jasmine’s budding talent for
but over time he saw my consistencies. the big screen is just beginning too, as she
“He was the first teacher I showed plans to study film next year at university,
Daydreamer’s Pursuit to and he was as well as enter Daydreamer’s Pursuit in
speechless, it brought tears to my eyes.” film festivals all over the world.
Jasmine has a condition called
synaesthesia, meaning she can ‘see’ Watch the film on YouTube:
music as colours. The inspiration for @Nostaljaz
1 Daydreamer’s Pursuit came from

BOSSIN’ IT After starting her apprenticeship
just midway through this year as
Young and determined – Year 12 part of her SchoolTech program – an
student and automotive apprentice initiative between TAFE Queensland
Nikita Fay has been awarded for Cairns campus and Woree State
being top of her field. High School – Nikita told Tropic
being a young woman in a male-
After receiving over 70 nominations, dominated industry “isn’t as bad as
TAFE Cairns’ Trade Excellence it sounds”.
Awards recently recognised 12 “I guess I’m a hard worker – I don’t
future tradies as the region’s best, hold back and just do my best all the
where Nikita was awarded the time,” she said. Excellence Award recipients were
TAFE at School Automotive and “I really want to have a reputation as female tradies, proving that gender
Engineering Student of the a good worker, who can be trusted. is no barrier to success in Cairns.
Year award. “The business I attended for work Rachel Brooker was named the
Nikita dreams of becoming a experience had never had a female Female Trades Student of the Year
masterful mechanic and said employee in the workshop … but and Automotive and Engineering
she was “stoked” to be chosen as they gave me a chance because they Mechanical Apprentice of the Year,
the region’s top automotive and could see that I was passionate.” while Latishia Morrison took out
engineering apprentice. Three of TAFE Cairns’ 12 Trade Electrical Apprentice of the Year.

24 • Tropic • Issue 27