If you have recently been "friended" on Facebook by any of our Filmsters Academy students or staff and have taken the time to read the comments on their walls, you will come to one overall conclusion... and that is, that everyone is sad that film camp has ended once again. But like any other experience, the stories of 2009 will live on. We are luckier than most because many of the great moments etched in our minds and engraved on our hearts have been captured on film. So in that respect, film camp is eternal... lasting and ageless preserved not on celluloid, but in an array of binary numbers, we live on as zeros and ones in the digital realm and eventually in cyberspace.
As for me, I will miss seeing all of the staff, interns and students each day, but perhaps more importantly, I will miss the creative energy boost that comes from the open exchange of new story ideas, the creative words coming to life on the page, the unforgettable improvisational moments of acting, the inspirational "ah-ha" moments that come with choosing a shot, lighting something well, capturing a crazy sound effect in an impromptu foley session or timing an edit so well that it is either hilarious or emotionally impactful. It is the first-time filmmaking realizations that we witness in the eyes of our students, the learning and creative expression that we see reflected on the screen, the friendships forged and the shared passion for filmmaking that fuels all of us. And on the night that we show our films at the film festival, it is that sense of pride and accomplishment that astounds and overwhelms all of us. This is what fuels us and inspires us to make this experience possible next year. It is these moments of brilliance, inspiration, fun, friendship and inspiration that renews our commitment each summer.
After much thought and reflection (and now that I've finally gotten some sleep), and after eight years of trying to grow and perfect Filmsters Academy each year, I believe that we have finally defined what it is that is so unique about us. Okay, here it is... we have somehow managed to create a 100% non-competitive, hands-on filmmaking experience for kids 11-20 that offers the whole process from beginning to end. We are not just a class on how to write, how to use a camera, how to act or how to edit. We are ALL OF IT. We are about story, structure, writing, translating that script to the screen, storyboarding and casting, location scouting, learning how to direct a crew and direct actors, we are about shooting, producing, acting, production and set design, costumes, makeup, sound, lighting, creating original music, effects and digital media and editing. We are ABOUT THE PROCESS. And in that process we are creating something original and lasting for others to enjoy. And somehow, against all odds, we manage to pull this off together and it is, well, this year in particular was really... MARVELOUS!
The other realization that I have come to after eight years of progress that is we are also a SPECIAL place. We are a COMMUNITY. In fact, we are actually TWO communities. We are one community of YOUNG FILMMAKERS ages 11-20 that develop friendships that go on throughout the year and who return the following summer. In addition, we are another community of YOUNG PROFESSIONALS whose interests are similar in that everyone is working to figure out where they may fit into this crazy industry that we like to call "the biz." What has transpired as we all bond through the adversity and commeraderie of helping these kids succeed in learning how to make short films, is a tight-knit group of YOUNG PROS who are helping one another with their shorts, helping each other get connected and to get started in this business and, well, ... that is very cool. It is the blending of each and every one of the dedicated staff and interns who come to us with many different talents that creates a place where anything is possible. It is your special commitment to having fun as well as our shared dedication to teaching of the art and the joy of filmmaking to these kids that makes our program SO VERY SPECIAL. It would not be what it is without you. So thank you. Thank you, thank you.
Lee
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