Learning to be a filmmaker has its challenges as Katie Fitzgerald, 18, recently discovered in shooting a four-minute video of folk singer Ella Coyes at Big Lake.
The weather, for one thing.
“We wanted to shoot at sunset. It’s the golden hour. It gives it a certain vibe. But going into it, we didn’t know what it would be like, cloudy or sunny,” said Fitzgerald, a Paul Kane graduate about to enter the MacEwan University business program.
“It definitely put me out of my comfort zone.”
Fitzgerald was fortunate. The video of Coyes sitting on a wooden platform singing Light My Way is bathed in warm golden tones, a soothing contrast to the singer dressed in a heavy shirt in what appears to be a chilly day.
This is the first of a six-part video series that provides a platform for and showcases the talent of a dozen youth artists who participated in the 2014 St. Albert Amplify Festival.
Each Amplify video is a collaboration between two youth artists – a singer and a filmmaker. Edmonton filmmaker Dylan Rhys Howard, a recognized professional from the Film and Video Arts Society, guided each project and provided one-on-one mentorship.
Amplify conceived the idea of a film project while casting about for ways to promote the festival. One video will be released approximately every two weeks leading up to the 2015 Amplify Festival on Oct. 16 and 17.
“It was not only a good promotional tool for the artists, but it was a way the community could get engaged with the festival,” said youth festival associate Kathleen Bell.
Of the six commissioned videos, two are in the can and four are in different stages of development. Coming immediately after is Stephen Badry’s film of St. Albert High School vocalist Andrew Salcedo singing Rhythm and Rhyme.
“Andrew isn’t just singing. He wrote a song he felt represents Amplify.”
Next up is country R&B singer Julia Nicholson belting her original tune, Black Camaro, at the skateboard park.
“While Ella’s film is very natural, Julia’s is very sleek as they tried to focus on the black Camaro.”
Folk-pop trio Everyday Gentlemen, a collaborative group poem, and a special tribute to suicide victim Caelin Porter complete the second half.
Howard’s role as the professional filmmaker includes making a treatment plan, providing technical expertise and offering mentorship said Bell.
“The youth filmmaker takes more of a directorial role. Youth were put in the role of telling Dylan what to do. With his guidance, he makes sure all the shots are there. He also hands over the camera and gives the filmmaker an opportunity to take a few shots.”
For Fitzgerald, her role involved pre-production planning, discussing different shots and angles followed by about three hours of shooting time at the lake.
“Ella sang four or five full times and we got her to sing different parts as well,” Fitzgerald explained.
After the shoot was over, Fitzgerald and Howard retired to FAVA’s headquarters. Hunched in Howard’s editing rooms, the duo spent several hours editing.
“I got to control a lot of it. I got to pick the scenes I wanted. It was an awesome process.”
Under Howard’s mentorship, she learned some serious pointers in keeping the camera still, learning special software programs and a variety of editing tricks.
Fitzgerald wrapped up her experience simply saying, “I want to do more.”
She also encourages youth to take advantage of Amplify’s offerings.
“When you hear about Amplify and you don’t know if you should go, go. Youth should push past their comfort zone. Filmmaking pushes you past where you think you should go and broadens what you can do.”
The Coyes video is on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8KtsK7Auis.
