The Salmon Arm Arts Centre is celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday with a youth-led video project.
Youth between the ages of 15 to 21 are working to collect video, animation and interviews to gather information from Salmon Arm as they explain what it means to be Canadian.
The workshop held on Oct. 12 introduced students to lighting, interview, and video techniques led by director of the Salmon Arm Arts Centre, Tracey Kutschker.
The experienced media-interested youth also offered plenty of feedback.
Student Ayden Clark was quick to adjust the camera photo settings to video, noting that when the camera’s photo option is switched to video on an iPhone, it automatically zooms and needs to be reframed.
The teenagers seemed well-equipped for the job, also offering lighting suggestions like performing interviews outside, and ensuring there are no trains or loud noises in the background.
The students were given a list of interview suggestions asking questions like: “Why do you love Canada?” and “What is one thing you want the world to know about Canadians?”
Free workshops in classical animation, stop-motion animation, video techniques, interview structure, editing and post-production are held in October, November and December with the final project showcased at the May 2017 youth exhibition at the Art Gallery.
The video premiers Apr. 29 2017, said Kutschker.
Mayor Nancy Cooper proposed the idea of collecting stories from Salmon Arm at the Canada 150 meeting.
She wanted to know why Salmon Arm residents live in the area.
Superintendent Glenn Borthistle suggested they pass along the idea to kids, she said.
“I’m excited to see what the kids come up with,” she said.
Cooper also wanted to show the everyday person perspective.
“You don’t hear about the everyday people. (Let’s) see who the people are, not just politicians.”
The video will showcase 150 people from Salmon Arm answering a Canadian question.
To get involved with the 150 Voices project, register through the arts centre.
