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Delta film students to showcase year’s work at gala

A year of hard work and dedication to their chosen craft will be unveiled for all to see as the Delta Film Academy presents its fourth annual Gala Showcase Friday night. Set for 6:30 p.m.
film academy
Delta Film Academy students are busy editing and putting the final touches on their films which will be shown to the public for the first time at the fourth annual Gala Showcase Friday night at the Equinox Theatre.

A year of hard work and dedication to their chosen craft will be unveiled for all to see as the Delta Film Academy presents its fourth annual Gala Showcase Friday night.

Set for 6:30 p.m. at South Delta Secondary’s Equinox Theatre, the evening will showcase the work from more than 60 high school students enrolled in the film acting, production and visual effects academies.

Admission is by donation at the door.

Academy teacher coordinator Jennifer McKee hopes to pack the theatre.

“It’s all about showcasing the students and their work,” she said. “It’s a red carpet event, the kids get all dressed up and show off their work that they have created throughout the year. We will also hand out some year-end awards. It all has a real film festival feel.”

McKee said some 40 films will be showcased from 60-second shorts to a 20-minute feature encompassing different genres, styles and filmmaking techniques.

“The first films are the 60-second voiceover thematic films,” she said. “These are all based on our themes and values for the academy, which are creativity, trust, community, challenge and focus. Our feature film is Best Year Yet, which is a collaborative effort and a film written by myself and fellow teacher coordinator Braden Saucy.”

McKee said this year’s academy classes are the largest yet.

“The dedication of this program and what we have shaped in our value system has created stronger students who are extremely dedicated to growing in their craft,” she said. “This group has been so gung ho from the very beginning and their work shows. It’s some impressive work.

“Some of the kids are a little nervous about the gala, but I think this is a very important part of learning where you can showcase and put a stamp on your work.”

Jude Ophoff, who is in his second year of the academy program, serves as director for Best Year Yet and an original work called Time’s Up.

“My experience has been great. I have learned a lot from having a hands-on experience,” he said. “My family comes from a film background, so I’ve been immersed in this before, but the academy experience touches on every aspect of film and what it’s like being on an actual set.”

South Korean international student Seoyun Choi is a camera operator and editor for Best Year Yet. She said she loves the academy for its well-rounded experience and has tried to immerse herself in every aspect in her first year in the program.

“I love to be in the crew and make something as a group,” said Choi.

Actor Michael Kirk from Delta Secondary plays the lead in Best Year Yet. He called his first year at the academy “fantastic.”

“From day one we were thrown into scene work and I loved that,” he said. “Getting to work with everyone on collaborative projects is very rewarding. We are like a family.”