For 10 years the Delta Film Academy has helped produce and foster movie and TV industry talent.
The academy, based inside Ladner’s Delta Manor Education Centre, is celebrating a decade of success – 10 years of giving students the tools to tell their stories in a visual and digitized world.
Started by Paige Hansen, the vice principal of academies and choice learning, she has now surrounded herself with a dedicated, passionate and talented team of instructors that has helped bring the academy to prominence within the industry.
“We started with a film acting academy and then what happened, organically of course with that creative space, was that we realized that kids were picking up video cameras to make films,” said Hansen. “From there within year three we started the film production academy and moved into our current space and as the academy numbers continued to grow, the visual effects academy just seemed like a natural to go with that. We are in our second year with that.”
Academy instructors include Jennifer McKee (film acting), Cameron Bancroft (film acting), Jason Mills (film production), Shelly Bogahra (visual effects), Sandra Almond (film production and visual effects), James Hebb (visual effects) and Garret Campbell (film production).
“The beauty of the uniqueness of this program is that our students work together even though they are in individual programs,” said Hansen. “The kids that want to be in films are working with the kids who want to make films, so there is this beautiful marriage and synergy of creative storytelling that is happening.
“There is a high degree of engagement in our student population. They are doing something really hands-on and creative that they will be able to take away with them for the rest of their lives in any industry that they go into.”
Currently there are 75 students in the academy – a huge jump from the handful of students that started 10 years ago.
“I think the growth is really because of the three streams and that they get to work together,” added McKee. “They love making movies together. It feels real. It’s fun. They get to tell stories that are interesting to them, stories that matter. It’s their way to get their voice out there in the world that is different than a normal classroom.”
A wealth of industry knowledge from all of the instructors is also a catalyst for the success of the programs.
“Everyone has resumes that are very similar. A lot of us feel like we benefited a lot from this early industry that Vancouver took on and now it has exploded,” said Bancroft. “It’s really cool to share some of that passion but also still be connected with the industry, so I feel like a lot of that is authentic. All of us can say that I never dreamed I could be an actor in Canada. So much of what we do is we expose kids to the reality that this is an industry and why not you and follow your passions.”
Collaboration from the instructors is also key. Many of them have either gone to school together, have worked together in the industry or even grown up together in the community.
“Jim and I worked together in the ’90s,” said Almond. “I think the collaboration from the two of us is great because we can give them a well-rounded look at the whole visual effects industry. And that collaboration is felt throughout the whole academy.”
Hebb said at the end of their academy experience, students will know whether they want to pursue further post-secondary schooling and ultimately get into the industry as a career.
“If they still have a love for it at the end of this, they will find work,” he said.
If parents of Grade 7 students or any grade are interested in learning more about the academy, they can visit: http://www.deltaacademies.ca/.
Hansen said students are always welcome to check the program out before they make any commitment. Email Hansen at [email protected] or call 604-952-5374. Academy programs are open for male and females students from grades 8 to 12.
