Advanced Camp is complete!
We made it through our three week camp and we have three amazing films finished to show at the Gala! This camp we made one animated special and we were able to successfully film two live action movies as well.
It was a very unique camp, but at the same time was just like all the others. Making a film at the studio is a remarkable process, as it takes a team of dedicated participants and producers to pull it off. I, Sierra, and many others at spectrum have taken on both roles at the studio.
Getting to do both roles has given me a real appreciation for the hard work of filmmakers in both positions. It is much easier since 2018, before we didn’t have production groups, but there are still challenges that we work to solve everyday. Writing a script that everyone in the group is satisfied with, finding the assets to make props and repair old ones, and choreographing scenes with lots of characters. Those are just a few of the problems we solve for every film, and those are just for pre-production!
It’s a wonder we get so much done in so little time, with the fraction of the budget that usual films have, but what we don’t have in resources we make up for in passion and creativity. Many of the participants in advanced camp make videos all the time, so they contribute their stories and characters. The producers take those and compose a script and storyboard for reference to film it all in less than a week! There can be a lot of times when we ‘hurry up and wait’, but we use all the time we have fully.
And we remember to have fun along the way too!
We asked the participants and staff to share their favourite part of filmmaking at the studio!
Seeing my friends and storytelling! -Ben B
Being with people like me and writing and acting! -Brendan
Being my character Dragon again!-Colm
The fight choreography was the best that I have done!-Sam
I loved drawing all the illustrations in this project.-Ben G
Making a film with a talking cat! -Vincent
Making some interesting stuff with some new people.-David
Making a live action film come to life! -Robert
We’ve all been through a tough time but it was great to see everyone’s faces!-Tristan
I loved acting from home. -Daniel
Finding a new costume for Arcana! -Julie
Getting better at acting and animating.-Hunter
Learning how to record for films and making costumes. -Leo B.
Collaborating with all my friends in person again! -Sierra
Making costumes and mish-mashing them together and making beautiful outfits! -Lila
Seeing the animation and the characters come to life. -Katie
Showing new people the ropes -Brendan
Editing in the studio and finding sound effects -Maddie
Hearing the participants' ideas, making unique assets, and putting them all together! -Melissa
Showing the participants finished assets and seeing the look of surprise on their face -Noah
Helping participants ideas come to fruition -Leo
Being on set and transferring what's on page to in real life. -Zof
Creating animation rigs and making epic and magical visual effects. -Mike
Using cameras, having fun with different angles and getting awesome performances! -Anthony
Hearing what everyone has in mind for the film and putting all their ideas together -Liam
Being on location with participants and getting to know them, and helping them with acting -Lasha
Being on set vibing with the participants, and capturing awesome stuff on camera! -Severyn
Seeing the final result of people’s films, and helping the participants realize their dreams! -Felipe
Sam showing off his cat Charlie to the chat
Dress up event for everyone on the chat.
The Spectrum Cinematic Universe group all assembled
Tristan, Hunter, Robert, Lila and Anthony busy planning their film
The SCU group having a table read for End of An Era
Sheep in Parc Maisonneuve!
The awesome staff: From left to right, Gaea, Zof, Leo C, Lasha, Severyn and Lila below
A thank you to the staff, signed by all the participants!
Now we have just one more camp to go this summer before we show all the films at the gala!