News Archive
Kung Fu Film Festival
There was no red carpet leading into Mitchell Hall this past Wednesday, but that didn’t dampen the buzz as the Film Production 360 held a film festival to show off the students’ work so far as they prepare for the 2023 BC Student Film Festival.
Groups of three to five students screened their films — ranging in length from one to seven minutes — for an audience of their peers, then fielded questions from the floor about their projects. The filmmakers discussed the obstacles they had to overcome during the production process, much of which included working on the fly; one group had to rewrite the script when a member fell ill on a filming day.
All of the films shared a common theme: kung fu. That wasn’t a random choice by 360 instructor Mr. Elliot Logan ’10 (Duxbury); it’s ideal for teaching film production because kung fu movies incorporate special effects, sound effects and stunts, all roped into one. “You’re introducing them to every aspect of film right off the bat,” he explains.
The films screened on Wednesday were filmed using a combination of phones and proper video cameras, although the students will have more use of video cameras for their bigger projects. Students in Shawnigan’s film program have access to a lot of technology, Mr. Logan points out. “We have enough tech in our film room to make an indie film,” he says.
Mr. Logan, who has a background in the film industry, was pleased with the results of the students’ first forays into film this year, particularly the composition, sound design, colour and cinematography.
Wednesday’s event was just the beginning. The ultimate goal for the students is to compete at the 2023 BC Student Film Festival later this year, and they discussed their ideas for those projects on Wednesday: everything from music videos to documentaries.
The Film Production 360 is just one of many programs helping Shawnigan keep pace with the digital age, Mr. Logan says. “We’re always consuming this content,” he notes. “It’s time we start producing it ourselves.”
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