Bits 'n' Pieces: Bay grad wins student Oscar award

John Harrison

Cinematographer John Harrison, 28, a 1998 graduate of Hudson's Bay High School, won his second consecutive student Oscar award this month. He directed photography for "Kavi," a film about slavery in India that won the gold medal in the narrative category at the 36th Student Academy Awards ceremony June 13.

Harrison and Greg Helvey, the film's director, both completed their master's degrees at the University of Southern California film school last year. Helvey's desire to raise awareness about human trafficking motivated him to make the film, which is based on real events.

When Harrison spent six weeks in India in 2007 to shoot "Kavi," the crew repeatedly had to push back shooting because of monsoons.

"Making a pretty ambitious film in a different culture and a different language — it was very challenging," said Harrison, who lives in Los Angeles.

Harrison also shot "Viola," which won a gold medal in the alternative category last year.

He said the student awards ceremony "is not anything like the Oscars you see on TV," but is still a big event, with lots of media, cameras and movie stars.

Other than winning an award, the highlights for Harrison at this year's event included meeting Woody Omens, former president of the American Society of Cinematographers, and John Landis, director of "Animal House" and "Blues Brothers."

Retiree finds adventure in Africa

About three months ago, retired copyright attorney Martin Hash and his wife, Gwynne, set out for a yearlong trip centered around 10 months spent exploring Africa.

When asked why he chose Africa, Martin jokes, "When I was 12, I read 'Tarzan.'"

The sense of adventure led Martin and Gwynne to try overlanding, which includes traveling in off-road vehicles during the day and camping at night. Since the trip began three months ago, Martin and Gwynne have visited 11 countries, including Morocco and Mali. Martin, who lives in Brush Prairie, is leaving behind one of his old "Tarzan" books in each country he visits.

Martin,51, plans on traveling around Africa for another seven months and hopes to visit eastern Africa in that time.

There haven't been many downsides to the trip so far, Martin said. "Everything has been excellent, even slogging through the mud."

But getting used to what he experienced as an anti-American sentiment was initially difficult.

At the same time, he did see some evidence of positive feelings about the U.S. In Timbuktu, Mali, Martin recalled seeing backpacks and shoes bearing the likeness of President Barack Obama for sale.

"Once they figure out that you're a Westerner, they say 'Obama! Obama! Barack Obama!'" he said. "Those are about the only English words they know."

Bits 'n' Pieces appears Mondays and Fridays. If you have a story you'd like to share, call Features Editor Elisa Williams, 360-735-4561, or e-mail elisa.williams@columbian.com.