The Panasonic HC-X900M camcorder is an expensive piece of equipment, about $1,100 depending on where it’s purchased.
Denise Humphrey gave four of these camcorders to a group of 13-year-olds. She charged them with a task: create a one-minute silent film.
“These are my little Spielbergs,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey is the coordinator of the Youth Moviemaking Program. The seven-week program is designed to give students hands-on film training experience while building practical skills in the field of digital film production. Eleven students aged 12- to 16-years-old will participate in this year’s program. Classes generally run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and take place in the lower level of the Reichhold Center for the Arts.
The program challenges the creativity in young people by placing them directly in front of and behind the camera. Through a series of interactive activities, students learn the skills necessary to produce their own videos and television programs.
Students are provided with lessons in scriptwriting, directing, writing, acting, lighting, sound equipment and relevant computer editing software. Humphrey places an emphasis on students learning the latest technology in each industry along with the latest and most practical techniques.
“I’d like to learn the technical side so I can use it to my advantage later down the line,” said Michael Neal, a 13-year-old who will be a freshman at Charlotte Amalie High School in the fall.
Each student expressed different reasons for applying to the program.
Anthony Brown, 13, wants experience in animation and movie editing. Leah Trotman, 13, is looking to gain knowledge about cinematography and photography. Asmar Bailey, 13, plans to use production skills he will learn this summer for technological projects in the fall. VerNele Callwood, 12, is interested in filmmaking.
“I want to make movies and not just create whatever and call it a movie,” said Callwood, who also loves dramas and Tyler Perry movies.
Humphrey and David Edgecomb created the program in 2001. Both saw a push by independent filmmakers to film in the Caribbean, so they decided to create a workshop to introduce local youth to the industry. They first targeted students aged 14 to 21, but later decided to lower the age requirement as more students became interested.
To apply for the program students had to complete an application, send two creative works, such as short stories, poems or photos, send two letters of recommendation and be available for the full seven-week time period. Each student was selected into the program through interviews.
The program is split into two segments: basic skills and film production. The first three to four weeks of the program educates the students on film production, editing and lighting techniques. The final three weeks students use the skills they’ve learned to create a 15-minute film. The film will be shown at Reichhold Center for the Arts on Aug. 1 and the viewing will be open to the public. Each student will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program, Humphrey said.
Students will have the opportunity to watch the process of an epic movie being filmed. Edward La Borde, a filmmaker from St. Croix, is filming “Timeless” locally, and Humphrey plans to take her students on location if possible. La Borde owns and runs Cutting Edge Entertainment, Inc., with Edgecombe. The company specializes in digital film and video production. La Borde plans to film at Pilgrim’s Terrace, Haagensen House, the Legislature and at least one private residence.
“It’ll be great for them to see what a huge production looks like,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey gave each student a manual to the camcorder with instructions to study it over the weekend. Students were instructed to work out a story idea Monday for the 60-second film, find a location, assign characters, work out sequences, produce footage and then edit that footage.
Humphrey said the program is designed to train students in media skills. Companies will be looking for production assistants, and the program will give students a leg-up for eventual internships and expose them to alternate career choices.
“We’re seeing teachers calling upon our students when it comes to operating media equipment because they’re more advanced,” Humphrey said.
The students have several success stories to choose from. Richard Sturdivant, Crystal Miles and Richard Simmons and Richard Vialet are alumni of the workshop Humphrey’s is proud to mention. Sturdivant, a producer and editor for TV2, is a 2012 Silver Addy Media Winner. Miles has worked for MTV, BET and the Discovery Channel, and is an accounts manager for RGEAR Worldwide, a boutique video and audio rental house that provides technical production to reality television film crews including audio and camera rentals.
Simmons provides audio and visual expertise for a Disney resort, Humphrey said. Vialet is a cinematographer who has worked on feature films, independent films, Lifetime Network original movies and a video for hip-hop duo Foreign Exchange. He’s also a two time honorary Paul Robeson Award winner for Best Cinematography.
It’s a process to learn these skills and then apply them, Humphrey said. The students are green when it comes to film production. The advent of social media means they are probably more advanced than the average student was 12 years ago, but that’s not enough for them.
“I’m looking for new knowledge,” Trotman said.
