Ethan Holt, a Meridian High School senior, won the Gem State Junior Award and a $250 cash prize for his eight-minute film, “The Mind Absent of Silence.” The film revolves around a teenager who finds someone to quiet his uncomfortably loud inner monologue, only to have to deal with a breakup. Holt said it took a month to write, six days to shoot and an exhausting string of nights editing it. “The kiss was the toughest part,” he said. “It involved a lot of takes because neither of us wanted to do it.” Twenty-five Community School students under the guidance of Burke last year weathered inclement winter weather to shoot a documentary film featuring Higher Ground’s therapeutic recreational program for wounded veterans and blind students.
The Essence of Sun Valley.
“There was a moment of, ‘holy cow! Look what we made!” –peter burke, community school video production instructor
Not only did the students learn about filming and editing, but they learned problem-solving, time management and followthrough, Burke said. “There was that moment of, ‘Holy cow! Look what we made!’ as the kids sat on the front row of the theater and appreciated what they’d accomplished,” Burke observed. “Getting to see someone with post-traumatic stress disorder or a physical disability was a reality check, as well. Many of these kids seem to have everything going for them, and they were like, ‘Oh, wow—there are bigger things than me in this world.’ ” Wilkinson’s son, Travis, now a 16-yearold sophomore at The Sage School, entered a video last year that featured animation superimposed on real-life film in the story of a young man going into a dream world of critters. He plans to submit another video this year. Last year’s Forum was a turning point, he said. “I’ve been making shorts on skiing and biking and for nonprofits such as Higher Ground, ERC and The Advocates. But I never had an audience before. Sitting there with other filmmakers was awesome. I know now I definitely want to be a filmmaker. It’s a great way to express your opinion and to capture an experience.” Bex Wilkinson said she expects this year’s Forum to be bigger and better. “It’s awesome because these students are taken seriously. They’re called filmmakers. They’re treated like filmmakers. And they’re so excited to be included.” Winter 2015 | sunvalleymag.com 47
500 N Main Street Ketchum ID 83340 208 726 5282 www.store.silver-creek.com