Young filmmakers
promote Gospel values
By Andréa
Ledding
SASKATOON — St. Angela
Catholic School in Saskatoon recently celebrated a fifth year of Filmmaker
Idol, an event in which Grade 6 students, led by teacher Curtis Wagner,
create and screen films for the school and a celebrity judges’
panel. This year, media and drama locals Craig Silliphant, Heath Mulligan,
Jeff Rogstad and Tim Hildebrandt provided feedback and critiquing between
screenings of the varied films.
“We’re reaching
out to transform the world through media,” explained Wagner. Students
learn about local and global issues and then write, perform, film, and
edit videos that illustrate Gospel values. “We have 20 videos
on YouTube already.”
“The creative impulse
comes from the Creator who made us all,” said MC Aaron Omelan.
The afternoon began with the screening of the film Scanner from 2007, a production that won awards at the local Flicks Film Festival that year.
Then the packed gymnasium
viewed three new releases. Those present were then given the opportunity
to vote in nine different categories.
The first film, Believe,
focused on the many conveniences taken for granted in our culture which
are unobtainable or scarce elsewhere. The average walk for a woman each
day to obtain water in some parts of Africa, for example, is 5.6 km,
and she returns bearing a container that weighs about 44 pounds balanced
on her head.
“Can you imagine 44
pounds on your head?” asked Mulligan. “That’s a curling
rock.”
The second film focused on
AIDS. In a group of friends, one girl falls ill and eventually dies
of AIDS because HIV was transmitted to her at birth from her mother.
While others ostracize her, one friend remains faithful.
“Every 12 seconds worldwide,
one new person is diagnosed with HIV,” noted one of the young
filmmakers. The judges commented on the realistic portrayal of sadness
by two of the young actors.
The third film was a sequel
on a film from a few years back about the St. Angela Zombie, with plenty
of humour used while exploring the Gospel value of respect and taking
a stance against bullying.
Wagner explained that giving
youth the ability to use visual storytelling can empower them to promote
a positive message. Projects based on Gospel values give them a voice
while bringing awareness of social justice issues, and inspiring themselves
and others to make a difference in the world.
Copies of the DVDs are made
available to the wider community. The films are entered in various festivals
and the videos are uploaded to online video sharing platforms.
So far, the videos have won 10 awards in various categories at local and national levels, with participation in Flicks, the Chicago and Seattle International Children’s Film Festivals, and the Showcomotion Young People’s Film Festival in the United Kingdom. One video, We Still Have A Dream, has been viewed online 5,000 times.
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