An inspiring teacher sparked Lloyd Carver-Kriege's interest in filmmaking, but it was 2017 BUFTA winner and former school mate Harry Weston’s short film that set him on the path to his dream career.
The 17-year-old from Guildford Grammar School in Western Australia will take the next step in January when he moves across the country to study a Bachelor of Film and Television at Bond University on the 2023 Vynka Hohnen Scholarship.
“As soon as I saw (Harry’s film) I knew that Bond was the university I wanted to go to,” Mr Weston said.
“The way he was accepted to pursue his passion as best he could and be completely immersed in it, I knew I wanted the chance to do the same.”
A technical hitch meant Lloyd wasn’t able to submit his own film for this year’s BUFTA contest, but the generosity of Vynka Hohnen’s family and friends means he’s able to make his dream come true.
Awarded annually to a West Australian Year 12 student, the Vynka Hohnen Scholarship Fund was established by the family and friends of the late Vynka Hohnen, a vivacious young lawyer who studied at Bond University, before returning to practice in her hometown of Perth. Tragically, Vynka died in a car accident in 2000 at the age of 24.
By offering this full tuition scholarship each year, Vynka’s family hope to give a young West Australian the opportunity to experience the broader perspective on life and fulfilment that Vynka experienced during her time at Bond.
Lloyd said he felt privileged to have been given such an opportunity and was keen to take advantage of everything Bond had to offer.
“The facilities are amazing and I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to go there and to have this experience,” he said.
“Film as an art form is such a unique and valuable way to express new perspectives on the world or issue or topics and I don’t think there’s any other art form that gives the ability to produce such pieces of work in the way that film or television does.”
Despite the ‘massive change’ of moving from his home state of Western Australia to the Gold Coast, Lloyd said he was looking forward to becoming part of the Bond community.
“I can’t see a better time to make a move like this, and I know there will be many of us in the same boat when we start next year.”
He’s also looking forward to pursuing his other passions – soccer and rowing.
“I started rowing in Year 9 and it changed my life,” he said. “I’ve made so many good mates and it taught me so many valuable lessons, so I’d like to start that again.”