- Contributed
Natalie Thompson speaks to students at the launch of 'Inspire and Educate', a film programme for high school students. Two schools took part in the programme's pilot in 2004 - Harbour View Primary and Ardenne High.

Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer

For many students, the ringing of the bell signalling the end of school for the day means the start of something else.

For some, it is time for round robin bouts of extra lessons, but for others, it is time to engage their imaginations and passions as they dive into extra-curricular activities.

Interestingly, though most believe that it is the core subjects that get children ready for life, for some the passion that sparks their professional career comes during the hustle and bustle of the afternoon when many of their comrades have made a mad dash toward the gate and the freedom it offers.

'Inspire and Educate'

These days, the harmony of choir singing, the flair of drama and the buzz of foreign language translations have been joined by the whirr of the camera and the setting up of angles, as film-making has now joined the roster of after-school activities.

The programme 'Inspire and Educate' was created by the Jamaican chapter of Women in Film and Television (WIFT) to toss another possibility into the minds of the young and get them to widen the lens of their future and think of film as one of their career options.

The advent of video and its continued acceptance and development in the film industry means that developing countries can have an easier time engaging in the multibillion-dollar industry. Of course, that also means getting more people seeing themselves as the creators of film and not just the consumers, stoking the desire to move from before the screen to behind the camera.

So, getting the next generation to consider becoming a film-maker is significant to allowing the still embryonic film industry to move to the next level and, hopefully, infuse it with more energy as new and enthusiastic film-makers come to the fore and get ready to tell their tales on the large and small screens.

Short films

The pilot programme was staged in 2004 to 2005 and the results were first showcased last year at the inaugural Flashpoint Film festival. The pilot programme featured two schools, Harbour View Primary and Ardenne High, and five short films were made as a result.

Harbour View Primary produced two short films, Fire on a Windy Day, written by Shantolle James and directed by Jahsent Murdoch, and Good to Goal, written by Nickece Phillips and directed by Donica Blackwood.

Three films were created by Ardenne, namely, Dissed, written by Nicholas Phillips and directed by Codae Pennicott, Of Life and Love, written by Tomilayo Bewaji and directed by Chadira Hinds, and Forgive and Forget, written by Camille Coward and also directed by Codae Pennicott.

So after the successful pilot the programme was officially started recently. It will feature four schools: Campion College, which will house the classes, Alpha Academy for Girls, Kingston College and Mona High.

"Primarily, 'Inspire and Educate' is a programme in video, but below that it is a programme in creativity," explained Natalie Thompson at the opening class. Anita Bully, coordinator of the programme, explained that the sessions will focus on the creation of short films, and the target is that each school should create two films.

Bully explained that the programme teaches the process of creating a story using visuals, creating a treatment, creating the script, using the camera, basic light and sound and editing.

Students' interest

Dainia Wright is one of the students who turned out for the first class of the course.

The 17-year-old Campion College student is the secretary of the school's film club.

"Actually, I would like to do film," she explained, "so I thought this process might be good for me."

Dainia explains that her interests so far rest in writing and direction. Indeed, she already has the themes she wants to work on as she wishes to explore teenage relationships.

Sixteen-year-old Antwane Green of Kingston College is a member of his school's drama club, and so his main interest lies in acting for film.

"I've been interested in the whole idea of film and film-making," he explained. "I just have a passion for it, so I thought I'd give it a try."

Bully explained that, ideally, the WIFT (Jamaica) would like to see the programme sustained.

However, that dream seems very unlikely for Harbour View Primary, as Bully explains that the school has no drama teacher, on whose shoulders the programme would have rested.

Ardenne, however, has expressed interest in continuing their involvement, but the writing is yet to be etched into the wall.

Even so, Bully explained that, individually, several of the students developed beautifully and seemed to have been duly inspired and educated, and have in turn awed others. "I think what amazed people most was that kids could produce those videos," she explained.

According to Bully, at least four of the students from the pilot programme are now determined that a career in film is written in their future.

Among them is Camille Howard. The film bug has sunk its fangs deep into Howard's creative spirit, driving her to pursue the course in video production at the Creative Production and Training Centre.

Having first tried her hand at writing scripts, Camille soon discovered that she wanted more.

"I was so proud to see my film come to life and to see other people view it and appreciate it," she said. "It has really motivated me."

Camille explained that at first her mother had been reserved about her choice of career, wanting her to go with a traditional choice, but after seeing the final product she is receiving much parental support.

Dream big

Bully expresses great joy at seeing participants like Camille blossom and move toward fulfilling this dream.

"The magnificent part is that you can see the start, development and you have an end product," she said.

The end product is a long way off for the new crop of students, but it is now their turn to roll camera and dream big.