The East End Student Film Project has a new home for its lights, cameras and action, including film courses, this summer. It has just moved into a studio in Sterlington Commons on Third Street in Greenport, where the group will offer 10 classes for local high school and college students from June 30 through Aug. 15, just before the third annual East End Student Film Festival opens Aug. 18. "This is a huge step for us," said Paul Henry, a founder of EESFP. "It's really important for us to have a space to keep our equipment and keep it going." Another important step, he said, was the group's receipt a month ago of 501 (c) 3 status, which officially makes it an educational not-for-profit organization able to accept tax-free donations. The new studio space will have an interview corner, with appropriate lighting and set for filming interviews, a sound booth, editing stations and a screening area. Students in grades 6-12 will be able to use the equipment and attend classes this the summer for a fee of $25. "It's more like a club than anything else," said Mr. Henry. The first class to have a confirmed instructor is a course in an advanced editing for selected students taught by Ian Wile, who owns an editing house in New York City called Rogue Post. He'll help students prepare for Open Cut, a film contest that challenges youth to edit professionally shot material to tell the story from their own points of view. Other classes in the works include a film music class, in which students will bring their choice of music and receive guidance in cutting it and shooting film to create a narrative. Also planned is a cinematography class teaching photojournalism techniques to create a film, and a class in collaborative filmmaking. Mr. Henry said professionals in filmmaking and related fields have been eager to volunteer to help with the classes, but he's still looking for more instructors. "We're trying to capitalize on everyone's strengths," said Mr. Henry. "It's by the community for the community." The group is also looking for furniture for its new space, he said. Mr. Henry said the space is meant to cater to kids at all skill levels. "It's about getting kids off the street, giving them something vocationally valuable and helping them express themselves," he said. "This is work in progress," said Mr. Henry. "We have no narrow vision of where this goes. It's really an open end." Students and potential teachers and patrons may contact the EESFP at www.eesfp.org.
|
