Every year, students from the region get a rare opportunity to work with acclaimed filmmakers as part of the Yorkton Film Festival. Students learn the process of making a movie, from shooting to editing, and see how it's done. Crystal Van Pelt, part of the student day committee, spoke to The News Review about the event.
Van Pelt says that the day has been steadily growing since beginning several years ago. Students are broken off into different roles in the production, including director, editor, actor and so on, and each goes through their task in various scenes, learning from experts in the field.
"It's about getting them really good training with experts we have in the field."
The day is a big opportunity, Van Pelt says, and a rare one for students. The event attracts a high caliber of instructor in different fields, which is good not only for getting experience with different tasks in film production, but also making contacts and building relationships if film is a career they want to pursue.
"It's a great opportunity for us as well to do what we all love to do, which is to teach and grow and share."
While Van Pelt notes that like any high school age students the group is shy, she says that as they get comfortable they begin to produce great work and are excited about what they can accomplish.
"You can tell right off the bat, they're very confident in what job they came to learn about... We have had great students, they get immersed in it... The pieces that are coming out are great, whether it's the acting or the way they're shooting or contributing their views to how they want the style done."
The goal overall is to close the gap between the dream job and reality, Van Pelt says, giving students a guide into the industry and towards jobs in the film industry.
"There is a way to do what you want to do... There's hard work behind it, but it's also fun."
Van Pelt says that there are big plans for the event in the future, looking to gain sponsorship and start expanding the event to a bigger group of students. While the event has been limited to 60 students in the past, the goal is to be able to get larger numbers involved.
