Archive for August 2010
Shoot Camp 2010
For four days and five nights the Palisades Centre in Jasper National Park was home to the first annual filmmakers camp for youth. From Sunday nights fire side chat with Erin Karpluk of CBC’s Being Erica…to the Premiere showing of the new films on Thursday night it was ‘lights camera action’ for all.
Sean and Sam successfully finished their first draft of their short ‘Newton’s Cradle’ within minutes of the public screening. Alex and Karl were perfecting their graphics and sound on ‘Fistful of Dragons’ as the classroom was transformed into a theatre complete with red carpet!
You see shoot camp is a play on the words ‘boot camp’. The first two days we had the teams up and out to the bunkhouse for full breakfasts by 8am…to the cameras by 9. Day three and four that schedule changed considerably once the footage was in the computers and ready for editing. After the nightly guest speakers (Geo Takach for writing, John L’Hirondelle for music composition, and Signe Olynyk for page to screen details) students didn’t head to bed like they did on shooting days. On editing days it was decided that editing could go on until the wee hours (just like the real world) and sleeping in was allowed.
Midday Thursday – the day for public screenings – found instructor David Baker running between edit suites checking on progress while setting up the theatre. Long renders in the computers and sound tracks to be installed…incompatible technologies and tired bodies made the best of the final day of editing.
The doors opened promptly at 7pm. ‘Fistful of Dragons’ graphic design will have to do. The ‘Garage Theatre’ is a balmy 28+ degrees…the audience filed in. Full house! Popcorn popping…licorice shared. Lights down. Missing two students. Down to the dining room to retrieve them…
These boys made us proud. The Campus should be proud…two great short films. Humour, character building, action without violence, use of the beautiful Palisades Centre in the imagery, good dialogue and great short storytelling skills. These students came to the camp to have the time and assistance they needed to complete a film they wanted to make. The camp was designed to assist young filmmakers in completing a project.
And thats what we did!
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Shoot Camp instructor David Baker is now listed with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Education Roster. Until they update their website you can see details about bringing a ‘Film Camp’ to your region/school at www.delphinus18.com.
And it gets better…between now and next spring all of Davids students are invited to forward their synopsis for a short film. One successful fledgling filmmaker will win the opportunity to go to Los Angeles next June to pitch their story at the Great Pitchfest! Start writing!! Contact video@iotad.ca for more details.
