Several aspiring film makers had an opportunity this week to learn what it’s like to be in the industry.
The Indigenous youth took part in the first ever Saskatoon Tribal Council Film Camp just outside of Saskatoon where they learned about all aspects of film from several Indigenous mentors.
Camp Coordinator and Metis Film-maker Marcel Petit says he wishes he would have had a camp like this growing up.
He says the camp fills a void that may have been missing for Indigenous youth.
“I think there is a group of kids out there that aren’t getting a chance to use their voice and doing something like this is a big step forward for Indigenous people,” said Petit.
During the week the students shot four different short films. All of them a few minutes long and all of them zombie flicks.
Petit says zombies were chosen because as he says “everyone likes zombies.” The Metis Film-maker says in the end he hopes the kids who attended realize you don’t need thousands of dollars to tell a story.
“If you have $500, make a movie, if you have an iPhone, make a movie,” said Petit. “We want them to know that they can look in the mirror and say my story is just as important as the person standing next to me, so we want them to know their voice is important.”
23 kids from across Saskatchewan participated in the camp including Shay Bear, a 15-year-old from Muskoday First Nation.
“When I first heard of this camp I was scared I wasn’t able to do it,” said Bear. “When I got here the mentors walked me through everything and it was fun,” said Bear.
She encouraged anyone who has an opportunity like this to make it happen because as she says it was worth it.
The student films were screened at Saskatoon’s Broadway Theatre on Thursday and were met with tons of laughter and applause from the audience.