Armed with a passion for filmmaking, Chico native Justin Topp is seizing the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the Cannes Film Festival in May.
While many dream of being in front of the camera, Topp chooses to spend his time behind it. He is currently a student at California State University, Northridge pursuing a degree in cinematography.
His passion for film began at an early age. Topp said his grandfather was one of his most significant influences and he vividly remembers visiting the theater regularly with him as a child.
"I want to be able to make movies in honor of him," Topp said. "When he passed away, I was like, this is what I want to carry on. I want to get my name in a credit roll for him."
Topp studied camera work while attending Pleasant Valley High School and became a member of their House of Blue program, a student-driven initiative that encompasses film, photography, videography, and audio production.
“I remember just diving in and wanting to learn about all of it,” Topp said.
House of Blue is a capstone course in Pleasant Valley High School's media arts curriculum. Topp continued following his passion and turned film into a career.
“It just felt natural,” he said. “Shooting things was always fun.”
Whether he was filming wedding receptions, local events, or commercial work for companies like Build, a camera was always nearby. When he switched from DSLR to cinema cameras, he realized where he really wanted to be.
“It felt almost like a plateau,” Topp said. “And so I was like, maybe I should go to film school.”
He eventually moved from Chico to Los Angeles, the film capital, where he is enrolled at CSU Northridge.
“Bringing that same confidence that I had here to LA was a dramatic shift,” Topp said. “But once you get down there, everyone else is moving, so if you're not, then what's the point of being there?”
Now, Topp has been granted the opportunity to attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival through the American Pavilion student outreach program.
The program’s goal is to enhance a student's education by providing hands-on experience, direct access to esteemed industry professionals, and invaluable networking opportunities.
He also hopes to gain more knowledge about an industry he hopes to be a part of.
“Actually being able to go to this festival and learn how a movie is sold, and actually understand how this market works, and talking to these industry professionals, I think, will be a huge asset,” Topp said.
Topp is trying to raise money in Chico in order to make the trip possible.
"I feel like fundraising makes sense coming from here because this is where I'm most proud of being, and this is where I feel the most at home," he said.
His fundraising goal for the trip is $6,000, which he hopes to achieve by focusing on community support and potential sponsorships.
“I have this sense of like almost, you know, proving like you can come from a small town and do it,” Topp said.
Topp hopes to inspire young filmmakers in the area to continue to pursue their filmmaking goals.
“I can come back here and go to my high school film class and say, This is how it works. This is how you guys can do this. And so that's a great feeling, and it would mean the world to me,” he said.
