THE first thing Connor McRae did when he found out he won silver in an international film contest was run laps around his house.

The aspiring director and score composer from Patterson Lakes made an eight-minute film with university friends in the hope to capture his hero Adam Young’s attention.

CONTACT — Adam Young Scores Film contest nominee

Not only did the film and television student win $700 and equipment, but he gained an unexpected tick of approval from Young — a renowned score composer and the man behind pop sensation Owl City.

“It was such a crazy, surreal sort of feeling,” Mr McRae said.

“My hero had essentially put up my film for display (on social media) and said such great things about my work.”

Young’s instructions for his Adam Young Scores Short Film Contest were to create a 5-10 minute film using one or more of his scores.

Mr McRae’s prize-winning film, CONTACT, kicks off with a “happy, adventurous tone” when four youngsters head off on a spontaneous road trip.

The tide soon turns, though, when the group becomes lost exploring a forest and realises there may be unwanted company nearby.

Mr McRae said the second half of the film was a matter of him trying to push himself and do something a bit different — the end result was much darker than anything he’s previously created.

“(The contest has) given me a lot of inspiration to go forward and compose more projects; a lot of initiative to go out there and do stuff,” he said.