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Program SpotlightCamera. Mark it. Action: Students Learn the Art and Rigors of FilmmakingPublished Thursday, January 28, 2010Carlos Bonachea frames his hands to show the camera angle he wants for the opening scene of “The Big Break,” the Florida Film Institute’s student production at John A. Ferguson Senior High School. “We can do something like Tarantino in One Step Beyond,” the co-director explains to Arturo Sande, one of several professional instructors mentoring the students. Bonochea is referring to one of renowned director Quentin Tarantino’s best-known films. He and the other students in this program that teaches the art and rigors of film-making have set their sights high. Participating in this innovative program funded by The Children's Trust has fired his dreams, while providing the hands-on skills to succeed in a highly competitive field.
The program, which launched in 1992, is the brainchild of Stephanie Martino-Rizzi, executive director of the Miami Film Festival for 10 years. Student productions have garnered recognition and awards in the Miami Short Film Festival, among others. “My experience with the Film Institute has definitely made me consider film as a career,” says Anjeanette “Kiki” Gongora, a senior at Ferguson and the producer for “The Big Break.” Gongora entered the film track at her school last year and next year plans to enter a Florida college to study filmmaking. Gongora worked with several writers to produce a script for the film, which tells the story of a high school student who resorts to violence to grab a slice of the limelight, but justice prevails and she learns that crime never pays. Ferguson High film teacher Juan Moreno, who’s collaborated with the Institute for three years, led 25 students in his Film Studies II class through the start-to-finish exercise of producing the film. “This gives me the chance to pass on my passion for movies, for filmmaking,” he says, adding, “there’s some real talent in this room, some of these kids have a future in filmmaking.”
In his second year with the Institute, instructor Sande graduated with a film degree from FIU in 2001. He went on to study at the New York Academy and has worked locally in the industry since then. Several days a month he works with the student classes, helping them to revise their scripts and to film the action. “I bring them a window of how filmmaking happens in the real world,” says Sande, adding, “I teach them how to communicate and work as a team, and let them know it’s going to be stressful out there.” “Quiet on the set. Roll. Sound. Strike. Speed. Roll the camera. Mark it. Action.” Students sound off from different points on the set. Lights flash on, the cameras roll and the actors run through their lines one more time as part of the morning’s two-hour rehearsal in the school auditorium, a run-through before final filming. “The students learn that they can’t control everything – they have to make the best out of the location,” explains Colodetti, who teaches sound recording at Miami Dade College and has worked for 20 years in the film industry. He says this particular group is especially motivated. “They really stay focused and want to learn. It doesn’t matter if they do it right or not, what matters is the progress.”
The sound machines, lights and filming equipment are broken down and packed away quickly. Students grab their backpacks and books and prepare to scurry off to other classes. Teacher Moreno meets with them to give instructions for final production filming – they’ll spend 10 hours filming on a day when school is out. He reminds them of the “Red Carpet Premier” planned for the spring when “The Big Break” will be screened for the entire school.
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