Back in the day, kids would go home, sit down on the couch and watch the latest videos.
Today, if they are lucky enough to live in Charlottesville, kids are making those videos.
For more than a decade now, Light House Studio has provided a forum for budding Spielbergs.
Actually, it all began back in 1999 when the first executive director, Shannon Worrell, and a collection of filmmakers, artists and educators devised a plan to share their knowledge with local youths. What the Music Resource Center does for young musicians, the studio applies to filmmakers. Kids learn to make movies, drawing on their own creative talents and our own local stories.
At Light House, kids with nothing more than an interest can learn how to use a camera, direct, choreograph and edit their productions. Their mentors — like I said, they are lucky to live in Charlottesville — are some of the best in the business. On a long list of those who have offered to help with hands-on instruction are Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Paul Wagner and Jack Fisk, another Oscar nominee, who has served as production designer for the likes of “There Will Be Blood,” “Water for Elephants,” “Mulholland Drive” and “The Thin Red Line.”
This fall, workshops range from analyzing classic films to learning to create digital effects. Advanced students get to pad their resumes by going out and helping create works for local groups and non-profits.
At last count, Light House students have created more than 200 documentaries, dramas and animated films. Their works have been shown on PBS, CNN, the Independent Film Channel and Charlottesville Public Access TV.
Tonight, you will get a chance to see some of young filmmakers’ latest films when the 10th annual Youth Festival gets under way at the Jefferson Theater.
Organizers say that it will be a chance to see some of the best films made by our area youths. And it will be an opportunity for the young filmmakers to see how an audience reacts to their efforts before the young directors send their works out to national competitions.
Several students of the local studio already have fared well. Alumni have won a Peabody Award, a Gold World Medal at the New York International Film and TV Festival and a Golden CINE Eagle Award.
Tonight, it’s the adults’ turn to come in, sit down and watch videos.
The doors will open at 6:30 for drinks and a nosh. You might even meet a few of the future stars while you snack. The films will be shown at 8, followed by a dinner catered by Harvest Moon at 9.
A late-night mixtape dance party will start about 10:30 p.m. with DJ Gavin Holland. Sorry, kids — you have to be 21 or older for this one. Beer and wine tickets cost $20.
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