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Students Learn Life Lessons From Film Festival

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: April 1, 2009

While many students might have been in it just for the fun, some of those participating in the Wesley Chapel High School ninth annual Film Festival said they learned real life lessons.

Sean Gaudet said he started the film festival in 2000 because he thought it was the best way to teach his students and focus their talents more towards career-oriented goals.

To participate in the festival, students had to split into groups of four-to-six and had to create seven- to nine-minute films. Students took on the roles of actors, screenwriters, editors, sound designers, costume designers and cinematographers.

The festival culminated with an awards ceremony and showing of the films at the school in the middle of March.

"With drama there are only two career paths, either live theater or film," Gaudet said. "There are a lot more jobs in film. Film also is more accessible. They (the students) understand what makes a good film and what makes a bad one. The festival teaches about responsibility, follow through and accountability. I think of these students as the people who will one day be my peers, so I try to instill a good work ethic."

Lauren Bates, 18, said she learned a lot from the last two years of participating. In that time she has worked on four short films for the festival, including most recently, "Hands Down" and "Starjump."

"I learned to try my best," Bates said. "How much you put into something is what you are going to get from it. I also learned to believe in myself and to just keep trying and eventually something will click. In his class, I learned everything in theater, from how to make the costumes and props, to all the behind the scenes stuff like the light booth."
Bates said instead of just learning the tools of the trade, she has learned valuable lessons she will take with her for the rest of her life.
Bates won Best Soundtrack for her work in "Hands Down."

"He didn't just teach us where to stand or how to project your voice, he taught us life lessons," Bates said. "Instead of just telling us what to do, he led us in the right direction. It is rare to find a teacher that cares."

Karly Muzik, 18, said she has enjoyed her work in the film festival every year for the last four years so much, she plans to make a career out of it. Muzik won Best Picture and Best Actress for her work in "Alive," and won Best Costume Art Design for her work in "Hands Down."

"When I go to college, I want to major in theater studies," Muzik said. "I am very interested in film, especially the technical aspects of it. I love the editing process. It is such a positive environment in his class that I felt it helped me to really grow. I have learned so much as a person from being involved in his class."

Garry Cohen, 16, said when he was announced as the winner for the Best Editor award, he was shocked. Cohen worked on both "Starjump" and "Just A Dream."

"I learned patience when editing the film," Cohen said. "It was really fun and a lot of work, but in the end it pays off. I feel like I really accomplished something. It was very rewarding."

He said he was in the movie "Just A Dream" with five other students because he wanted to make a serious movie with a message.

"In the film, six kids go to sleep to escape their lives and all end up in the same dream," Cohen said. "We made the movie because we were sick of making funny movies, but it ended up being a comedy anyway. The message of the movie was that even if your life isn't good, at least you still have friends."

Dillon Barker, 15, said since it was his first time participating in the film festival, he learned a lot about how to do it better next year. He won Best Actor for his work in "Freddy," which was about a nerdy kid who had a crush on the most popular girl in school.

"We ran out of time to shoot all the scenes, so we had to change the ending," Barker said. "Instead of ending up with the popular girl, Freddy found his inner self and decided he was proud to be a nerd. Through this project I learned to work with others and to have patience. Next year, I plan to make more time for the project."

For information, visit gaudetwc.com.

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